R 051436Z MAY 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 014/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MR//
SUBJ/MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION DAY//
POC/LTCOL CRAIG KILHENNY/MRZ/UNIT: 703-784-0296/NAME:DSN 278-0296/- //
GENTEXT/REMARKS// 1. THIS YEAR, FRIDAY, 8 MAY 2009, WILL BE CELEBRATED AS MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION DAY.
2. IN HIS MEMOIRS, LIEUTENANT GENERAL JOHN A. LEJEUNE REMINISCED NOT ONLY ON HIS MARINE CAREER, BUT ALSO ON THE EMOTIONS HE EXPERIENCED AS A MARINE, HUSBAND, AND FATHER. HE SPOKE OF THE SELFLESSNESS OF HIS WIFE, HER BRAVERY, AND OF THE MANY TRIALS SHE ENDURED IN HIS ABSENCE TO SUPPORT HIS CAREER. FOR HER SACRIFICE, HE FELT SHE WAS DESERVING OF SPECIAL RECOGNITION. THIS SENTIMENT BECAME REALITY IN 1984 WHEN PRESIDENT REAGAN SET ASIDE THE FRIDAY BEFORE MOTHER'S DAY TO SALUTE THE MILITARY WIVES AND HUSBANDS WHOSE DEVOTION, COURAGE, STRENGTH, AND RESILIENCY ARE VITAL TO OUR CORPS' OPERATIONAL READINESS.
3. ANNETTE AND I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR ADMIRATION TO OUR MARINE CORPS SPOUSES FOR THEIR PATRIOTISM AND SELF-SACRIFICE. YOU COME FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS BUT UNITE WITH A COMMON BOND OF UNFAILING SUPPORT FOR YOUR MARINE AND ONE ANOTHER. YOUR VOLUNTEER SPIRIT IS CRITICAL TO OUR MISSION. WE THANK YOU AND ENCOURAGE ALL MARINES TO TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR YOUR SACRIFICES.
4. SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//