R 251806Z MAY 12
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 018/12
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/MEMORIAL DAY SAFETY MESSAGE//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  AS WE OBSERVE MEMORIAL DAY AND HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN SERVICE TO OUR NATION, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE REFLECT ON THE FIDELITY AND SACRIFICE THEY EMBODIED WHILE DEFENDING FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.  OUR NATION HAS BEEN AT WAR FOR MORE THAN A DECADE AND HAS SEEN NEARLY 6,450 OF ITS SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN FALL IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.  WE WILL KEEP FAITH WITH THEIR MEMORY AND HONOR THEIR SURVIVING LOVED ONES.
2.  I ASK THAT ALL MARINES AND SAILORS REFLECT AND REMEMBER THOSE FORWARD DEPLOYED AND FORWARD ENGAGED IN HARM'S WAY, BRAVELY STANDING WATCH AND FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD.  THEIR HEROISM ENSURES OUR COUNTRY'S CONTINUED SECURITY AND PROSPERITY.  I ALSO ASK THAT YOU SET ASIDE TIME TO REFLECT ON OUR WOUNDED WARRIORS WHO CONTINUE TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES OF THE VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE IMPACTS OF WAR.  THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY WAYS WE KEEP FAITH WITH OUR MARINE CORPS FAMILY.
3.  THIS WEEKEND ALSO BEGINS THE ANNUAL SUMMER HOLIDAY SEASON.  TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AND CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE RISKS INVOLVED WITH ALL OF YOUR SUMMER ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE INVOLVING ALCOHOL. REMAIN FOCUSED ON PRESERVING OUR MOST PRECIOUS ASSET - THE INDIVIDUAL MARINE AND SAILOR.  REMIND EACH OTHER OF THE IMPORTANCE TO OUR MISSION, BOTH IN COMBAT AND WHILE AT HOME WITH YOUR FAMILY. AND REMEMBER... MARINES TAKE CARE OF MARINES.  FOR THOSE DEPLOYED, STAY SAFE AND CONTINUE TO SERVE WITH PRIDE KNOWING YOU ARE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.
4.  I WISH YOU ALL AN ENJOYABLE MEMORIAL DAY AND A SAFE AND HAPPY SUMMER.
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//