R 301743Z MAR 99
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS
ALMAR 009/99
MSGID/GENADMIN/-//
SUBJ/PASSOVER-EASTER CELEBRATIONS//
POC/LAMONDE, J.R./CAPT/PRIPHN:224-5630/-/-//
RMKS/1. PASSOVER AND EASTER OFFER TIME FOR SPIRITUAL RENEWAL AND
CELEBRATION FOR JEWS AND CHRISTIANS ALIKE. THESE HIGH HOLY DAYS
OFFER TWO FAITH COMMUNITIES OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE UNITY OF THEIR
HERITAGE AND REFLECT UPON THEIR COMMONALITY OF PURPOSE: THEIR CALL
TO SACRIFICE; THEIR COMMITMENT TO VIGILANCE; AND THEIR MISSION OF
SERVICE TO OTHERS.
2. THIS SEASON REMINDS JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN MARINES, SAILORS AND
FAMILY MEMBERS THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH AS A FOUNDATION IN OUR
PERSONAL LIVES AND IN OUR NATION. FOR JEWS, PASSOVER MARKS THE
EXODUS OF THEIR ANCESTORS FROM BONDAGE IN EGYPT. FOR CHRISTIANS,
EASTER MARKS THE EXODUS FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN INTO THE HOPE AND NEW
LIFE IN THE RISEN CHRIST. BOTH EVENTS ARE A CAUSE FOR GREAT JOY.
3. PASSOVER IS CELEBRATED FOR 8 DAYS BEGINNING AT SUNSET, 31 MARCH
AND ENDS 8 APRIL. EASTER SEASON BEGINS WITH PALM SUNDAY ON 28 MARCH
AND CONCLUDES 4 APRIL. FOR ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS, EASTER SEASON BEGINS
WITH PALM SUNDAY ON 4 APRIL AND CONCLUDES 11 APRIL. COMMANDERS ARE
ENCOURAGED TO PERMIT LIBERAL LEAVE AND LIBERTY FOR INDIVIDUALS
DESIRING TO OBSERVE THESE IMPORTANT DAYS OF CELEBRATION.
4. TO OUR JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN MARINES, SAILORS AND THEIR FAMILIES,
I OFFER MY BEST WISHES FOR A SACRED AND MEANINGFUL HIGH HOLY DAY
SEASON. I ALSO EXTEND A HEARTFELT THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIGILANT
READINESS, AND EVER FAITHFUL WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE FOR OUR GREAT
NATION. SEMPER FIDELIS, C.C. KRULAK, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.
//
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