Washington, December 7, 2016: Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education, at the Holiday reception at the White House, thanked President Obama for his service to the nation and his support for the Sikh community in his years as President of the United States.
President Obama along with the First Lady Michelle Obama hosted one of the last holiday receptions at the White House to meet with their supporters and people who have worked with the Obama Administration in the last 8 years. President Obama said, “This is going to be the last holiday season at the White House for us. It is our chance to say thank you to all the supporters, the amazing staff and all the advocacy groups that we have worked with. This is particularly important for us to say that it was a privilege to serve in these last 8 years on behalf of the American people. It is exciting and at times it is aggravating.”
He added, “It is most importantly humbling because you are reminded all the time that essentially we are just here to give voice to all the amazing work that you do and efforts you make in congregations, in cities, in towns to make sure that people have health coverage, that the military families get the respect and are cared for, and make sure that young people go to college and it is affordable.”
Dr. Rajwant Singh had a chance to greet Obamas along with Arvinder Singh, a member of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, an active Sikh congregation in the Washington area. Dr. Singh reiterated an invitation to Michelle Obama to visit a Sikh congregation. Michelle Obama said, “We will be honored to come. We will certainly come, if not before, but certainly once we leave the White House. It is really busy and we are trying to do all of our packing.”
Over 20 lawmakers from the Capitol Hill had sent a letter to Obama in October urging him to visit a Sikh Gurdwara to create awareness about the community, which would help deter hate crimes against the Sikhs.
Dr. Rajwant Singh said, “It was important to say thanks to the Obamas for their support to the Sikh community in the last 8 years. Their standing with the community during the challenging time in the aftermath of the attack on the Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek will always be a high point in this presidency. In response to Singh asking President Obama to allow Sikhs in the US Armed Forces, Obama said, “I understand it and I am doing everything I can.” Several Obama Administration senior officials have been nudging and pushing the Pentagon to change its policy on facial hair and headgear according to Dr. Singh. He stated that Pentagon has a very bureaucratic approach to its rules and regulations and they have been pressured from many members from the Capitol Hill and Sikh advocacy groups. Arvinder Singh also thanked President Obama.
With Michelle standing next to him, Obama further stated, “This gives us the chance to say how much we appreciate what you have done. The work that we have accomplished has been a consequence of you and that also means that our time at the White House has come to an end. The mission, the goal and the energy, the values and the inspiration does not change. He added, “On behalf of Michelle, Sasha, Malia and Grandma, we want to make sure to tell you how much we appreciate what you have done for us. More importantly, to everyone in the country; this phase ends, but a longer journey continues.”