♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) - IT'S A SPECIAL TIME HERE AT THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY.

AND FROM THE ENTIRE USAFA TEAM, WE WISH YOU SEASONS GREETINGS.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) - AS WE GATHER FOR THE HOLIDAYS, I AM SO PROUD AND THANKFUL FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK HAPPENING HERE AT OUR ACADEMY.

EVERY DAY OUR CADETS ARE DEVELOPING INTO WAR FIGHTERS TO WIN, LEADERS OF CHARACTER AND QUALITY, AND CRITICAL THINKERS TO ADAPT TO AN EVER CHANGING WORLD AND BATTLEFIELD.

- WE'RE TRAINING TO LEAD THE AIR FORCE'S SPACE FORCE OF TOMORROW.

- FROM THE FLIGHT LINE.

- TO THE ATHLETIC FIELDS, WHERE WE FOSTER A COMPETITIVE MINDSET.

- FROM TRAINING ON MALWARE TO DEFENDING CRITICAL NETWORKS.

- FROM THE CLASSROOM, WE ARE LEARNING WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE WITH PURPOSE, INTEGRITY, AND EXCELLENCE.

- WE ARE THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION'S DEFENSE AND A REMINDER THAT EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE GO HAND IN HAND.

- WE'RE PROUD TO REPRESENT THE LONG BLUE LINE.

>> THIS SEASON REMINDS US OF THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE AROUND THE WORLD, THOSE WHO STAND WATCH TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS AND SUPPORT OUR ALLIES.

WE WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SERVICE AND THEIR DEDICATION.

- MAY I BRING JOY, REFLECTION, AND CONNECTION AS WE CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON TOGETHER.

- TONIGHT'S HOLLY AND IVY PERFORMANCE BY OUR AMAZING UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY BAND IS A TRIBUTE TO THOSE DEPLOYED IN HARM'S WAY AND A GIFT TO EACH OF YOU.

- FROM ALL OF US AT THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ SILENT NIGHT.

♪ HOLY NIGHT.

♪ ALL IS CALM AND ALL IS BRIGHT.

♪ ♪ ROUND YON VIRGIN, MOTHER AND CHILD.

♪ ♪ HOLY INFANT SO TENDER AND MILD.

♪ ♪ SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE.

♪ PEACE!

♪ SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ OH, SILENT NIGHT!

♪ ♪ HOLY NIGHT!

♪ ♪ ALL IS CALM, ALL IS BRIGHT.

♪ ♪ ROUND YON VIRGIN, MOTHER AND CHILD.

♪ ♪ HOLY INFANT SO TENDER AND MILD.

♪ ♪ SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE!

♪ ♪ PEACE!

♪ ♪ SLEEP IN HEAVENLY, YEAH SLEEP IN HEAVENLY, ♪ ♪ SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ OOH, YEAH!

♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ [APPLAUSE] ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ - HI, I'M CADET FIRST CLASS FALLON EGGET FROM VEAZIE MAINE.

I CAME TO THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY FOR THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES HERE AND THE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AFTER GRADUATION, HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ - HI, MY NAME IS CADET 3RD CLASS JOHN BASCOM.

I'M FROM WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, AND THE REASON I WANTED TO COME TO THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY WAS TO FLY FIGHTER JETS.

I HAD SOME FRIENDS BACK IN WILLIAMSBURG THAT FLEW AND I REALLY LIKED WHAT THEY DID.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ - HEY, FROM ALL OF US AT THE US AIR FORCE'S CENTRAL COMMAND BAND.

THOUGH WE ARE SPENDING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON DEPLOYED AT AL UDEID AIR BASE IN QATAR, OUR HEARTS ARE WITH YOU BACK HOME.

WISHING YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES PEACE AND JOY THIS SEASON.

PLEASE ENJOY, ANGELS, WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ OOH YEAH, YEAH.

♪ ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH.

♪ ♪ SWEETLY SINGING O'ER THE PLAINS.

♪ ♪ AND THE MOUNTAINS IN REPLY ECHOING THEIR JOYOUS STRAINS.

♪ ♪ YEAH HEY OH.

♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ SHEPHERDS WHY THIS JUBILEE?

♪ ♪ WHY YOUR JOYOUS STRAINS PROLONG?

♪ ♪ WHAT THE GLADSOME TIDINGS BE.

♪ ♪ WHICH INSPIRE YOUR HEAVENLY SONG.

♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ GLORIA, GLORIA, GLORIA.

IN EXCELSIS DEO.

♪ ♪ GLORIA, GLORIA, GLORIA.

♪ IN EXCELSIS DEO.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ GLORIA, GLORIA, GLORIA.

♪ GLORIA, GLORIA, GLORIA.

♪ IN EXCELSIS DEO.

♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ - HI, MY NAME IS CADET 3RD CLASS JONATHAN LIVINGSTON FROM RIDGELAND, MISSISSIPPI, AND I JUST WANT TO WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

PART OF THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO ATTEND THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY IS BECAUSE OF THE RICH HISTORY THAT THIS PLACE HAS.

THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, ALSO KNOWN AS RED TAILS, HAVE BEEN A DRIVING FACTOR IN WHY I WANT TO SERVE MY COUNTRY BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THEY FACED HEAVY DISCRIMINATION IN THE AIR FORCE, THEY CONTINUED TO SERVE THE SAME COUNTRY WITH THE SAME PASSION THAT THEY HAVE.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ - IN THE QUIET OF DECEMBER WHEN THE LIGHTS BEGIN TO GLOW.

♪ ♪ THERE'S A DANCE IN THE AIR AS ABOVE US FALLS THE SNOW.

♪ ♪ DRIFTING SNOW, SILVER LACE.

♪ ♪ ALL ACROSS THE MOONLIT PLAINS, ECHOES OF THE SUMMER NOW JUST ♪ ♪ DREAMS AND FROZEN FLAMES.

♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ BY THE FIREPLACE WE GATHER SHARING STORIES OF THE YEAR.

♪ ♪ SINGING SONGS WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN, WITH FRIENDS ♪ ♪ AND FAMILY NEAR.

♪ ♪ MELODIES INTERTWINE, A NEW SONG COMES TO MIND.

♪ ♪ ONE OF SIMPLE MOMENTS IN TIME.

♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ AS THE SNOW BEGINS TO FALL, EVERY SINGLE SNOWFLAKE IS A ♪ ♪ MEMORY TO RECALL.

♪ ♪ ARMS WIDE OPEN TO THE SKY DANCING WITH THE SNOWFLAKES MY ♪ ♪ WORRIES LEAVE MY MIND.

♪ AND NOW, SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT JEFF VALENTINE ON GUITAR OF STEELE.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ FIELDS LAY BARE AND SILENT WITH THE BLANKET ♪ ♪ PURE AND WHITE.

♪ ♪ CHILDRENS LAUGHTER ECHO, HEA THEM TWINKLING IN THE NIGHT.

♪ ♪ CANDLES FLICKER SOFTLY IN TH HUSH OF WINTER, ALL OF THESE ♪ ♪ MEMORIES SEEM TO LINGER IN MY MIND.

♪ ♪ AS THE SNOW BEGINS TO FALL, EVERY SINGLE SNOWFLAKE IS A ♪ ♪ MEMORY TO RECALL.

♪ ♪ ARMS WIDE OPEN TO THE SKY DANCING WITH THE SNOWFLAKES MY ♪ ♪ WORRIES LEAVE MY MIND.

♪ ♪ AS THE SNOW BEGINS TO FALL, EVERY SINGLE SNOWFLAKE IS A ♪ ♪ MEMORY TO RECALL.

♪ ♪ ARMS WIDE OPEN TO THE SKY!

♪ ♪ DANCING WITH THE SNOWFLAKES, MY WORRIES LEAVE MY MIND.

♪ ♪ DANCING WITH THE SNOWFLAKES, MY WORRIES LEAVE MY MIND.

♪ ♪ DANCING WITH THE SNOWFLAKES, MY WORRIES LEAVE MY MIND.

♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ [APPLAUSE] - THANK YOU.

- HI, I'M CADET 3RD CLASS SOPHIA ROWAN.

I'M FROM CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

I JOINED THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY BECAUSE I WANT TO SERVE MY COUNTRY AND I WANT TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS HERE.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ THE HOLLY AND THE IVY, WHEN THEY ARE BOTH FULL GROWN, OF ♪ ♪ ALL THE TREES THAT ARE IN THE WORLD THE HOLLY ♪ ♪ BEARS THE CROWN.

♪ ♪ THE RISING OF THE SUN AND THE RUNNING OF THE DEER, THE ♪ ♪ PLAYING OF THE MERRY ORGAN, SWEET SINGING IN THE CHOIR.

♪ ♪ THE HOLLY AND THE IVY, WHEN THEY ARE BOTH FULL GROWN, OF ♪ ♪ ALL THE TREES THAT ARE IN THE WORLD THE HOLLY ♪ ♪ BEARS THE CROWN.

♪ ♪ THE RISING OF THE SUN AND THE RUNNING OF THE DEER, THE ♪ ♪ PLAYING OF THE MERRY ORGAN, SWEET SINGING IN THE CHOIR.

♪ ♪ THE HOLLY AND THE IVY!

♪ ♪ THE HOLLY AND THE IVY!

♪ ♪ THE HOLLY AND THE IVY!

♪ ♪ THE HOLLY AND THE IVY!

♪ ♪ THE HOLLY AND THE IVY!

♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ OF ALL THE TREES IN THE WORLD.

♪ ♪ OF ALL THE TREES IN THE WORLD.

♪ ♪ OF ALL THE TREES IN THE WORLD.

♪ ♪ THE HOLLY BEARS THE CROWN!

♪ ♪ THE HOLLY AND THE IVY, WHEN THEY ARE BOTH FULL GROWN.

♪ ♪ OF ALL THE TREES IN THE WORLD.

♪ ♪ THE HOLLY BEARS THE CROWN.

♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ OF ALL THE TREES IN THE WORLD, THE HOLLY BEARS, THE HOLLY ♪ ♪ BEARS THE CROWN!

♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ THE HOLLY BEARS A BLOSSOM, AS WHITE AS THE LILY FLOWER.

♪ ♪ THE HOLLY BEARS A BLOSSOM, AS WHITE AS THE LILY FLOWER.

♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ THE HOLLY AND THE IVY, WHEN THEY ARE BOTH FULL GROWN, OF ♪ ♪ ALL THE TREES THAT ARE IN THE WORLD THE HOLLY ♪ ♪ BEARS THE CROWN.

♪ ♪ THE HOLLY AND THE IVY, WHEN THEY ARE BOTH FULL GROWN, OF ♪ ♪ ALL THE TREES THAT ARE IN THE WORLD THE HOLLY ♪ ♪ BEARS THE CROWN.

♪ ♪ THE HOLLY AND THE IVY, WHEN THEY ARE BOTH FULL GROWN, OF ♪ ♪ ALL THE TREES THAT ARE IN THE WORLD THE HOLLY ♪ ♪ BEARS THE CROWN.

♪ ♪ THE HOLLY AND THE IVY!

♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ THE HOLLY AND THE IVY, WHEN THEY ARE BOTH FULL GROWN, OF ♪ ♪ ALL THE TREES THAT ARE IN THE WORLD THE HOLLY BEARS ♪ THE CROWN.

♪ ♪ THE HOLLY AND THE IVY!

♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ OF ALL THE OTHER TREES IN THE WORLD.

♪ ♪ THE RISING OF THE SUN!

♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ ♪ THE IVY, THE IVY, THE IVY!

♪ ♪ THE IVY WEARS THE CROWN!