way to go. >> please welcome the director of the national park service, jonathan jarvis. ♪ jonathan: for joining us for one of the events that truly makes a holidays sparkle for visitors to the nations nation's capital. this is our 100 anniversary coming in 2016. we are inviting everybody to come and find your park. if you have never visited, we want all americans to discover a new national park experience. tonight, it is my great honor to introduce to you someone very special to us in the national park service. betty is 94 years old and the oldest park ranger. [applause] she works at rosie the riveter world war ii homefront national historical park in richmond, california. she was part of the war effort in richmond and while she does not really think of herself as a rosie, her history is one that was written in the 1940's. it is my pleasure to introduce a woman whose dedication for sharing a complete story has inspired so many. including me. please welcome betty. ♪ betty: thank you, director jarvis. i was last in washington in 2009 for the presidential inauguration. in my breast poc

. >> please welcome the director of the national park service, jonathan jarvis. ♪ jonathan: thank yous for one of the events that truly makes the holidays sparkle for visitors to the nations -- nation's capital. this is our 100 anniversary coming in 2016. we are inviting everybody to come and find your park. national park visits -- if you have never visited, we want all americans to discover a new national park experience. tonight it is my great honor to introduce to you someone very special to us in the national park service. oskin is 94 years old and the oldest park ranger. [applause] she works at rosie the riveter historical park in richmond, california. she was part of the war effort in richmond and while she does not really think of herself as a rosie, her history is one that was written in the 1940's. it is my pleasure to introduce a woman whose experience and dedication for sharing a complete american story has inspired so many. including me. please welcome betty. [applause] ♪ betty: thank you, director jarvis. washingtonin in january of 2009 for a presidential inauguration. in

. >> please welcome the director of the national park service, jonathan jarvis. ♪ jonathan: thank youor joining us for one of the events that truly makes a holidays sparkle for visitors to our nations capital. lighting the christmas tree is a holiday tradition and it helps us kick off the celebration of the national park service is 100 anniversary which is coming in 2016. here at presidents park, and other national parks across the country, we are inviting everyone to come find your part. if the national park visits are a regular tradition for your family or you have never visited a national park, we want all americans to discover a new national park experience. tonight it is my great honor to introduce to you someone very special to us in the national park service. is 94 years old and the oldest park ranger. [applause] she works at rosie the riveter historical park in richmond, california. she was part of the war effort in richmond and while she does not really think of herself as a rosy, her history is one that was written in the 1940's. in richmond. it is my pleasure to introduce a

. >> please welcome the director of the national park service, jonathan jarvis. [ cheers and applause> thank you all for joining us for one of the events that make the holidays sparkle. the annual lighting of the national christmas try is a holiday tradition and it helps kick off the celebration of the national park service's 100th anniversary coming in 2016. here at president's park and other national parks across the country we are inviting everyone to come find your park. if the national park visits are a regular tradition for your family or if you have never visited a national park we want all americans to discover a new national park experience. tonight it's my great honor to introduce to you someone very special to us in the national park service. betty soskin is 94 years old and the oldest park ranger. [ cheers and applause ] she works at rosie the riveter world war ii home front national historical park in richmond, california. she was part of the war effort in richmond, and while she doesn't think of herself as a rosie, her story is an important piece of history that was writ

during the event we hear from national park service director jonathan jarvis, eddie read saskin and firsty michelle obama. actress reese witherspoon is he host of the ceremony. reese witherspoon: welcome. for the 93rd annual national christmas tree lighting. pretty exciting. we are in this historic national park across from the white house on a wonderful winter night in our nations capital. millions of americans will be celebrating the season with their own holiday traditions, but tonight we are glad that you joined us here for a terrific night of music and more. speaking of music, let's hear it for the united states coast guard band. are they amazing? [applause] reese: i also want to add a special welcome and thanks to all the men and women in uniform serving around the world. and for being here this evening. now it is my great honor to welcome the first family of the united states. [applause] reese: mr. president, mrs. obama, sasha and melia. happy holidays. ♪ ♪ president obama: hello everybody. happy holidays. you know our crew, malia,

i also want to thank betty's boss, jonathan jarvis, and and everybody from the national park servicel park foundation for everything they do to protect and care for america's great outdoors. and for helping us find our park this year and every year. and thank you reese witherspoon. [applause] pres. obama: and each of tonight's outstanding performers. this, is of course, the most wonderful time of the year. we would be remiss not to take a moment to remember our fellow americans whose hearts are heavy tonight. who grieve for loved ones, especially in san bernardino, california. their loss is our loss too, but -- for we are all one american family. we look out for each other. in good times and in bad. they should know that all of us care about them this holiday season. they are in our thoughts, in our prayers, and we send them our love. now, this is the 93rd time americans have gathered by the white house to light the national christmas tree. as always, this tree is not alone. all across america in living rooms and offices, churches and town squares, families and neighbors are gatherin

[applause] i also want to thank betty's boss, jonathan jarvis, and for everybody from the national parknd the national park foundation for everything that they do to protect and care for america's great outdoors, and for helping us "find our park" this year and every year. and thank you to reese witherspoon and each of tonight's outstanding performers. [applause] now, this is, of course, the most wonderful time of the year. but we would be remiss not to take a moment to remember our fellow americans whose hearts are heavy tonight, who grieve for loved ones, especially in san bernardino, california. their loss is our loss, too, for we're all one american family. we look out for each other in good times, and in bad. and they should know that all of us care about them this holiday season. they're in our thoughts, they're in our prayers, and we send them our love. [applause] now, this is the 93rd time americans have gathered by the white house to light the national christmas tree. and as always, this tree is not alone. all across america, in living rooms, and offices, churches, and town squ

during the event, we hear from jonathan jarvis, director of the national park service, the oldest living ranger, and first lady obama. actress reese witherspoon is the host of the ceremony. ♪ reese: good evening. welcome to the annual christmas tree lighting.

i also want to thank betty's boss jonathan jarvis and for everybody from the national park service and the national park foundation for everything that they do to protect and care for america's great outdoors. and for helping us find our park this year and every year and thank you, reese witherspoon. [ cheers and applause ] and each of tonight's outstanding performers. now this is, of course, the most wonderful time of the year, but we would be remiss not to take a moment to remember our fellow americans whose hearts are heavy tonight. who grieve for loved ones, especially in san bernardino, california. their loss is our loss, too. for we're all one american family. we look out for each other. in good times and in bad and they should know that all of them care about them this holiday season. they're in our thoughts, they're in our prayers and we send them our love. now, this is the 93rd time americans have gathered by the white house to light the national christmas tree. as always, this tree is not alone. all across america in living rooms and offices, churches and town squares familie

. >> please welcome the director of the national park service, jonathan jarvis. ♪ jonathan: thank you joining us for one of the events that truly makes a holidays sparkle for visitors to our nations capital. lighting the christmas tree is a holiday tradition and it helps us kick off the celebration of the national park service is 100 anniversary which is coming in 2016. here at presidents park, and other national parks across the country, we are inviting everyone to come find your part.