VOL・15　レーガン大統領・国民の宝物宣言（DVDから）

With stirring sounds of Christmas still ringing in our ears and in our hearts,

It is my honor to introduce the man for whom the phrase “Peace on Earth”　

has the greatest significance; the President of the United States and Mrs.

Reagan,

 Thank you very much… Nancy and I want to thank you for inviting us tonight.  We’ve thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and I know all of you have.

And , Andy Williams, I think we’ll have to declare your voice a national treasure.  Andy is someone who exemplifies the best ideals of the entertainment industry.  We can all be grateful that he has been around to gladden our hearts and to add meaning to an occasion like this one tonight .  We can also be grateful for the fire young people of the United States Naval Academy.  This chorus has lifted our spirits and has made us very proud.  You young people in that chorus are training at an amplice so that one day, you will be preserving the peace.  During this holiday season, I hope that all of us will take the time to remember in our prayers the dedicated men and  women in our military forces.  It is especially hard for them away from home during this holiday season.  But, they’ve taken a heavy responsibility.  Let us also pray that some day we can build a world where young men and women aren’t needed to stand guard, because the spirit of Christmas will have been a reality.  The Christmas spirit is a candle that we must always keep burning.  Nancy and I wish each of you a very happy holiday season.  And again, we thank all of these wonderful people here, these children, the young people, the choir, all of them, for what they have brought to us tonight. 

  Nancy and I are delighted that so many have lent their talents tonight to help benefit the children’s hospital national medical center here in Washington.  On occasions like this our thoughts reach back to that day, 1985 years ago in Bethlehem.  Tom, I hope you don’t feel like I’m horning in on your profession, but I’d like to read a contemporary news account of that event, 2000 years ago.

  And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over the flock by night.  And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord showed round them, and they were sore afraid.  But the angel said unto them; “Fear not, for behold, I give you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you was born, this day in the city of David, a savior which is Christ the Lord.

  So, it’s appropriate that in the Christmas season, we honor the little children, like the savior, who first appeared in this world, a helpless infant, our children, in their vulnerability, innocence, and trust, carry the light of the world in their hearts.  With our children, we literally hold the future in our arms.  Let us follow the better angels of our nature and come to see this thing which the Lord has made known to us in the spirit of every little child.  Let me read a little more of that news account.

  “And this shall be a sign unto you,” the angel said to the shepherds.  “We shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”  And suddenly, there was what the angel, a multitude of the heavenly best, praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace, good will toward men.

Thank you, again, for all that you’ve done for the children’s hospital.  Let us find comfort and joy in our children, and with them pray for peace on Earth, and goodwill toward men.  Thank you and God bless you all.

ある夜、羊飼いが野原で羊の群れを見ていました。突然、天使が現れました。天使は、神様の光に放射していたので、羊飼いたちはこの壮観に怖がりました。天使は言いました、「怖がるな。私たちは素晴らしいことを伝えにきた。今日は、デーヴィッドの市で、あんたたちの救い主、クリストが生まれたのだ。」

ですから、クリスマスは幼い子供たちのために祝うのです。この子達の無邪気さと弱さは、クリストの幼い頃のように、みんなの心を温かくするものです。私たちは子どもたちを抱きしめるときは、未来を守っているのです。ベスレへンの話をつづきます。

天使は言いました、「赤ん坊は小屋に寝ている。この子の生まれは、変化が来る兆しだ。」それで、天使たちは、神様の崇拝を歌い始めました。

皆さんがこの病院を支えてくれて、ありがとうございます。私たちの子供たちは大切なので、世界の平和を祈りましょう。