2002 WINTER HOLIDAY SAFETY MESSAGE
Date Signed: 6/15/2007 | ALMARS Number: 072/02
ALMARS : 072/02
R 201800Z DEC 02
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(n)
TO ML ALMAR(n)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS
ALMAR 072/02
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/CMC//
SUBJ/2002 WINTER HOLIDAY SAFETY MESSAGE//
RMKS/1.  AS WE PREPARE TO CELEBRATE THE WINTER HOLIDAYS,
I ENCOURAGE ALL MARINES NOT TO ALLOW A POOR DECISION
TO PERMANENTLY MAR THE SEASON FOR YOUR CORPS, YOUR FRIENDS,
OR YOUR FAMILY.  DURING LAST YEAR'S WINTER HOLIDAYS,
FIVE MARINES WERE KILLED IN OFF-DUTY MISHAPS.  BASED
ON PREVIOUS YEARS RECORDS, STATISTICIANS PREDICT
FOUR MARINES WILL DIE DURING THE SAME PERIOD THIS YEAR.  
WE CAN BEAT THESE GRIM PROJECTIONS.  EACH OF
US HAS THE ABILITY AND THE RESPONSIBLITY TO
KEEP THE HOLIDAY SEASON FROM TURNING TO TRAGEDY.
2.  TRAGICALLY, MOTOR VEHICLE MISHAPS CONTINUE TO BE THE
LEADING KILLER OF MARINES. MARINES, BE SMART WHEN YOU
CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS.  THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR DRINKING
AND DRIVING, OR DRIVING WITHOUT USING SEATBELTS FOR YOURSELF
AND FOR YOUR PASSENGERS.  IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO DRIVE
LONG DISTANCES, ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE EXAMINED THE RISKS
AND HAVE PUT MEASURES IN PLACE TO ELIMINATE OR REDUCE
THEM.  ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, AT ANY TIME.  IF YOU PLAN
YOUR LIBERTY AS YOU PLAN ANY OTHER IMPORTANT MISSION, YOU WILL
SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASE YOUR CHANCES OF BECOMING A SAD
STATISTIC THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
3.  I NEED EACH OF YOU BACK AT WORK AFTER THE HOLIDAYS, HEALTHY
AND READY, FOR WHATEVER OUR NATION REQUIRES OF US.  I WISH
EACH OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON.  
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S.
MARINE CORPS,COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//