(light music) (upbeat music) (wind howling) (upbeat music) - Season's greetings.

I'm Lieutenant General Rich Clark, superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

On the 1st of April, 1954, President Eisenhower signed into law the bill authorizing the establishment of the United States Air Force Academy.

This upcoming year, we celebrate the institution's 70th anniversary.

Our cadets have been setting the standard from the very start of our first class.

Our very first graduate, Lieutenant General Retired Bradley C. Hosmer, was our first Rhodes Scholar, and the first graduate to eventually serve as superintendent of our academy.

General Hosmer's integrity and excellence continue to inspire our cadets to become leaders of character in our US Air Force and US Space Force.

We are the world's greatest air force and space force because of those who have gone before us, particularly those who weren't afraid to break barriers.

While preparing for future conflict has always been part of our services' identity, and one of the foundations of the academy's curriculum, empowered airmen and guardians are the competitive edge we have over our adversaries.

During this holiday season, let us remember the individuals in uniform and their families who continue to serve around the globe to preserve our freedom while reassuring our partners and allies of our nation's commitment to uphold the principles of democracy and respect for international rules-based order.

As a tribute to our military members and their families, we present this holiday production from the Air Force Academy Band.

Whatever family traditions you might celebrate at this time of year, we hope this year's show brings you some holiday spirit and joy.

I invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the "Holly and the Ivy" as our gift to you.

On behalf of all the cadets, faculty and staff at the United States Air Force Academy, happy holidays.

(upbeat music) (gentle music) (bells jingling) (magical music) (audience clapping) (light jazz music) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (light jazz music continues) (audience clapping) (audience cheering) (light jazz music continues) - [Audience Member] Yeah!

(audience clapping) - Hi, I'm Jacob Birtch, and I'm from New Milford, Pennsylvania.

Today, I find myself in blues, because I felt a calling to serve the nation that I love and to support the men and women defending it.

I believe that those among us, serving us, are the greatest among us and I wanna wish you all a very happy holidays.

(gentle music) (bells jingling) (magical music) (gentle music) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (light drumming) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (audience clapping) - Season's greetings.

I'm Cadet Nand from Queensland, Australia, wishing you and your families a safe and enjoyable holiday period.

I became a cadet in order to honor the service, challenge myself, and most importantly, to protect the skies.

(gentle music) (bells jingling) (magical music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (audience cheering) - Hello, I'm Cadet Third-Class John Rodriguez, and I chose to become a cadet and start my journey of service to this great nation to honor all those who served before me and to give back to everyone who helped shape me into the person I am today.

I'd like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy holiday season.

(gentle music) (bells jingling) (magical music) (audience clapping) (sticks clacking) (light music) (light music continues) (light music continues) ♪ Silent night ♪ holly night ♪ All is calm ♪ And all is bright ♪ Round yon virgin ♪ Mother and child ♪ holly infant ♪ So tender and mild ♪ Sleep ♪ In heavenly peace ♪ Peace ♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪ Peace (light music continues) (light music continues) (light music continues) (light music continues) (light music continues) (light music continues) (light music continues) (light music continues) ♪ Oh ♪ Silent night ♪ holly night ♪ All is calm ♪ And all is bright ♪ Round yon virgin ♪ Mother and child ♪ Yeah ♪ holly infant ♪ So tender and mild ♪ Yeah ♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪ Peace ♪ Peace ♪ Sleep in heavenly, yeah ♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪ Peace (light music continues) ♪ Ooh ♪ Yeah, yeah, again, yeah ♪ Da da da da da da da da ♪ Ooh (audience clapping) (audience cheering) - Hello, everyone.

My name is Caleb Craddock, and I'm from a small town called Okanogan, Washington.

I chose to come to the Air Force Academy because it would challenge me to do things outside of my comfort zone and constantly push me to grow.

On behalf of the band, and the entire cadet wing, have a lovely holiday season.

(gentle music) (bells jingling) (magical music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (singer sings) (singing continues) (singing continues) (singing continues) (singing continues) (singing continues) ♪ The holly and the ivy ♪ When they are both full grown ♪ ♪ Of all trees that are in the wood ♪ ♪ The holly bears the crown ♪ O, the rising of the sun ♪ And the running of the deer ♪ The humming of the merry organ ♪ ♪ Sweet singing in the choir ♪ The holly and the ivy ♪ When they are both full grown ♪ ♪ Of all trees that are in the wood ♪ ♪ The holly bears the crown ♪ O, the rising of the sun ♪ And the running of the deer ♪ The humming of the merry organ ♪ ♪ Sweet singing in the choir ♪ The holly and the ive ♪ The holly and the ive ♪ The holly and the ive ♪ The holly and the ive ♪ Ivy ♪ Ivy ♪ The holly and the ivy ♪ The holly and the ivy ♪ The holly and the ive ♪ The holly and the ive ♪ Ivy ♪ The holly and the ive ♪ The holly and the ive ♪ Of all the trees in the wood ♪ Of all the trees ♪ Of all the trees in the wood ♪ The holly bears the crown ♪ The holly and the ivy ♪ When they are both full grown ♪ ♪ Of all the trees in the wood ♪ The holly bears the crown ♪ The holly bears a berry ♪ As red as any blood ♪ The holly bears a bark ♪ As bitter as the gall ♪ Of all the trees in the wood ♪ The holly bears, the holly bears ♪ ♪ The holly the crown (light dramatic music) (light dramatic music continues) ♪ The holly bears a blossom ♪ As white as a lily flower ♪ The holly bears a blossom ♪ As white as a lily ♪ Flower (light music continues) ♪ The holly and the ivy ♪ When they are both full grown ♪ ♪ Of all the trees that are in the wood ♪ ♪ The holly bears the crown ♪ The holly and the ivy ♪ When they are both full grown ♪ ♪ The holly bears the crown ♪ The holly and the ivy ♪ When they are both full grown ♪ ♪ Of all the trees that are in the wood ♪ ♪ The holly bears the crown ♪ The holly and ivy ♪ The holly bears the crown ♪ The holly and the ivy ♪ When they are both full grown ♪ ♪ Of all the trees that are in the wood ♪ ♪ The holly bears the crown ♪ The holly and the ivy ♪ When they are both full grown ♪ ♪ Of all the trees that are in the wood ♪ ♪ The rising of the sun ♪ The holly ♪ The holly ♪ The holly bears the crown ♪ Of all the trees ♪ The ivy, the ivy, the ivy, the ivy ♪ ♪ The holly and the ivy, the ivy, the ivy ♪ ♪ The holly bears the crown (no audio) (no audio)