233RD BIRTHDAY OF THE U.S. NAVY
Date Signed: 10/3/2008 | ALMARS Number: 040/08
ALMARS : 040/08

R 031457Z OCT 08
ALMAR 040/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/233RD BIRTHDAY OF THE U.S. NAVY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE MARINE CORPS, I AM
PLEASED TO EXTEND WARM CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE
UNITED STATES NAVY AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 233RD BIRTHDAY ON 13
OCTOBER.
2.  FROM THE FOUNDING OF OUR GREAT REPUBLIC TO THE CURRENT WAR ON
TERROR, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE COME TO DEPEND UPON THEIR NAVY TO
SAFEGUARD OUR SHORES, PROTECT OUR VITAL INTERESTS, AND DEFEND
DEMOCRACY.  IN TIMES OF WAR AND PEACE, YOUR SUCCESS IN ACHIEVING
THESE GOALS HAS ESTABLISHED A LEGACY OF COURAGE, DEDICATION, AND
SELFLESS SERVICE THAT IS SECOND TO NONE.
3.  PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE ARCHITECT
OF THE MODERN U.S. NAVY, ONCE OBSERVED THAT "A NATION SUCH AS OURS
CANNOT POSSIBLY PLAY A GREAT PART IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ...
UNLESS IT HAS A STRONG AND THROUGHLY EFFICIENT NAVY."  I BELIEVE THE
26TH PRESIDENT WOULD TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE STRENGTH, EFFICIENCY,
AND FLEXIBILITY DEMONSTRATED BY THE WORLD'S FINEST NAVY TODAY.
4.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR MANY ACHIEVEMENTS, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU
HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT AND SUPPORT OF THE U.S. MARINE CORPS.
5.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHIPMATES! SEMPER FIDELIS!  JAMES T. CONWAY,
GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//