P 220940Z DEC 00 ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS
ALMAR 047/00
MSID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/CMC HOLIDAY MESSAGE//
RMKS/1. FELLOW MARINES, THIS IS A SPECIAL TIME OF
THE YEAR FOR ALL MARINES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR FRIENDS.
WHILE WE PAUSE TO CELEBRATE THE TRUE MEANING OF THESE
HOLIDAYS IN OUR OWN WAYS, THE MARINE CORPS FAMILY COMES
TOGETHER AT THIS TIME TO CELEBRATE THE HERITAGE THAT DEFINES
US AS MARINES IN THE EYES OF THE NATION.
2. OUR FOCUS TURNS TO OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, AND WE GIVE
THANKS FOR BOTH AS THEY SUSTAIN US IN ALL THAT WE DO. WE
ESPECIALLY TURN OUR THOUGHTS TOWARDS MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES
WHO HAVE BEEN VISITED BY TRAGEDY DURING THE PAST YEAR, AND WE
PRAY FOR SPECIAL STRENGTH FOR THEM. WE REMEMBER OUR MARINES
"ON WATCH" AROUND THE GLOBE, AND WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE THINKING
ABOUT THEIR LOVED ONES AND THE REUNIONS THEY ANTICIPATE MORE
EAGERLY WITH EACH SUNRISE.
3. FINALLY, WE REMEMBER EACH OTHER AND THE GOOD FORTUNE WE ARE
ENTRUSTED WITH; THE LEGACY OF MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO
FORGED TODAY'S MARINE CORPS ON DISTANT BATTLEFIELDS UNDER THE
HARSHEST OF CONDITIONS. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR COMMON TITLE.
IT UNIFIES US THROUGH THE AGES AND ACROSS ALL RANKS. WE KNOW
THAT THE GIFTS OUR NATION ENJOYS ARE NEVER FREE, BUT WE CAN TAKE
PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT THE WORD "MARINE" IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL SUCH GIFTS.... FREEDOM ITSELF.
4. DIANE JOINS ME IN WISHING EACH AND EVERY MARINE AND EVERY
MARINE FAMILY A PEACEFUL AND JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON. WE ARE PROUD
TO SERVE THE NATION ALONGSIDE EACH OF YOU.
5. SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS//
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