Jason Timothy Jr. put on his best game face when he met President Barack Obama at the annual Christmas dinner for service members and their families at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

The 12-year-old son of Chief Warrant Officer 2nd Class Jason Timothy was nervous but kept his cool while meeting his father’s boss, the commander in chief of the United States.

“I thought it was nerve-racking, but I just had to keep that face,” Jason said. “I saw some people come out crying. I was a little shocked at first, but like this is the president, so I couldn’t cry. (I had my) normal, regular-day face.”

Obama spent part of Christmas afternoon greeting service members and their families at the base in Kaneohe for the eighth consecutive year.

“Mele Kalikimaka,” the president exclaimed as he began his holiday speech late Friday afternoon in the Anderson Hall dining facility, where about 460 people dined on roast turkey, ham and meatloaf before waiting in line to meet the president.

Obama, wearing a white short-sleeved dress shirt and gray khaki pants, stood alongside first lady Michelle Obama, wearing a black lace-trimmed dress, as he thanked the troops and their families for their service to the country.

“This is one of our favorite things to do every single year because not only are we in Hawaii for Christmas, but we’re also able to say thank you on behalf of the American people,” Obama said. “So many families here are serving tirelessly, and it’s not just those in uniform who serve, it’s also spouses (and) kids. There are times where you’re missing birthdays, missing soccer games, making sacrifices. As we know when you’re deployed overseas, it’s tough.”

1st Lt. Michael Wagner of Tallahassee, Fla., summed up his encounter with the president in one word: “Amazing.”

“I was extremely star-struck that I was like 2 feet from the POTUS, completely shocked,” said Wagner, who was with his wife, Shekiah, and 2-year-old son, Eli. “I was just like, ‘Oh my goodness, this is the president of the United States.’”

After his speech the president and first lady went into a room to take pictures with the service members and their families, which included several babies.

“We always get our baby fix when we take these photos,” Obama said, adding that the only problem he encounters while at the base in Hawaii is “having to work out with Marines in the gym.”

“I generally feel like your commander in chief is in pretty good shape, then I get next to some guy curling a hundred pounds and it makes me feel small,” he said. “But that’s OK. It gives me some inspiration. I’m going to work harder so I can keep up with you next year.”

Following his meeting with the president, Gunnery Sgt. Jacky Brun got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend, Chris Kingston, who is also in the Marine Corps.

“This is the best Christmas ever,” Brun said. “I’ve been away from my family and everybody for about the last five years. Getting to see the president for the first time, that was awesome. Getting engaged was even better.”

Kingston added that she will never forget this Christmas.

“It was really special meeting the president and getting engaged in front of the base commander, who granted us a waiver to kiss in uniform,” she said.

Before the Friday afternoon visit, Obama opened Christmas gifts and sang carols with his family at their vacation rental in Kailua, the White House said. On Christmas Eve the president made phone calls to U.S. service members from each branch of the military stationed around the globe to express his gratitude for their service.

The White House didn’t provide details on what gifts were exchanged, but Michelle Obama spilled a few details before the family arrived on Oahu.

She said during her annual holiday visit with hospitalized children that the president was getting “workout stuff.” Her daughters were getting money.

“They don’t want me to waste my energy picking out stuff they don’t want,” she said. “So they’d rather just have the money.”

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.