R 191703Z NOV 12
UNCLASSIFIED/
ALMAR 044/12
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/237TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. NAVY CHAPLAIN CORPS//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. ON 28 NOVEMBER 2012, WE COMMEMORATE THE 237TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY CHAPLAIN CORPS. FROM THE EARLIEST BATTLES OF THE WAR FOR AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE TO THE CURRENT WAR ON TERRORISM, NAVY CHAPLAINS HAVE PLACED THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY TO PROVIDE MINISTRY AND TO SERVE AS A MORAL COMPASS FOR MARINES AND SAILORS. THIS CORPS OF CLERGY HAS PROVEN THEIR DEDICATION THROUGH UNSELFISH SERVICE AND BY ALWAYS CARING FOR THE SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING OF MARINES, SAILORS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
2. WHETHER IN COMBAT OR AT HOME, THESE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CLOTH HAVE STOOD BY OUR SIDE, COMPASSIONATELY COMFORTING THE INJURED, HONORING THE FALLEN, AND CONSOLING THE GRIEVING. THEIR INDOMITABLE SPIRIT AND SUPPORT TO THOSE FORWARD DEPLOYED AND FAMILIES AT HOME IS TRULY APPRECIATED. IN EVERY CRISIS AND CONFLICT WE HAVE FACED, THE SPIRITUAL REASSURANCE AND CALMING PRESENCE OF OUR CHAPLAIN CORPS HAS ALLOWED MARINES TO OVERCOME. THEY CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THIS SAME REASSURANCE TODAY.
3. AS WE PAUSE TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THESE SPIRITUAL SHEPHERDS OF OUR CORPS, MARINES SERVING AROUND THE GLOBE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE AND UNWAVERING DEVOTION TO DUTY. ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, I EXTEND THE HEARTIEST GREETING ON THIS SPECIAL OCCASION AND WISH THE CHAPLAIN CORPS A VERY HAPPY 237TH ANNIVERSARY.
4. SEMPER FIDELIS. JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//