R 161340Z MAY 05
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL ALMAR(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 022/05
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/2005 ARMED FORCES DAY MESSAGE//
POC/SGT K. PTAK/ADMIN CHIEF/CMC STAFF GROUP/-/TEL:(703)614-2326
/EMAIL:PTAKKK@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. ARMED FORCES DAY IS A TIME SET ASIDE TO
STRENGTHEN THE TIES BETWEEN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THEIR MILITARY
SERVICES. IT IS BOTH A DAY FOR A GRATEFUL CITIZENRY TO EXPRESS ITS
THANKS TO THOSE WHO WEAR THE CLOTH OF THE NATION, AND AN OPPORTUNITY
TO EXPAND THE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS OF THE SERVICE ITS SOLDIER,
SAILORS, AIRMEN, MARINES, AND COAST GUARDSMEN PROVIDE.
2. FOR OUR CORPS, THIS DAY CALLS US TO REFLECT UPON OUR
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATION'S SECURITY AS THE WORLD'S FOREMOST
EXPEDITIONARY WARFIGHTING ORGANIZATION. IT REMAINS A DISTINCT HONOR
AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THIS GREAT NATION AS WE ENDEAVOR TO PROSECUTE
THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR, THEREBY PROTECTING THE NATION'S INTEREST
AT HOME AND ABROAD, AND FURTHER EXTENDING THE HAND OF FREEDOM TO THE
WORLD'S OPPRESSED. WE ARE AT WAR, AND WHILE MARKING THIS DAY WITH
PARADES, OPEN HOUSES, AND CELEBRATIONS, LET US NOT FORGET OUR FELLOW
MARINES MANNING THE LINE AROUND THE GLOBE. TODAY, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE
EXCEPTIONAL SACRIFICES OF ALL OF OUR SERVICE MEMBERS, THEIR
FAMILIES, AND IN PARTICULAR THOSE SIDELINED BY THEIR SELFLESS AND
VALOROUS SERVICE.
3. MARINES, AS WE CELEBRATE THIS 55TH ARMED FORCES DAY, KNOW THAT
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THEIR MARINE CORPS, AND YOUR
CONTINUED MAGNIFICENT PERFORMANCE IS IN KEEPING WITH THE
UNCOMPROMISING HERITAGE OF OUR CORPS. SEMPER FIDELIS, AND KEEP
ATTACKING! M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF
THE MARINE CORPS.//