ARMED FORCES DAY
Date Signed: 5/11/2012 | ALMARS Number: 016/12
ALMARS : 016/12
R 101317Z MAY 12
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 016/12
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/ARMED FORCES DAY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON 31 AUGUST 1949, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CREATED AN ARMED FORCES DAY TO REPLACE SEPARATE ARMY, NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND AIR FORCE DAYS; IT WAS FIRST CELEBRATED ON 20 MAY 1950.
2.  AS WE HAVE FOR 236 YEARS, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF TODAY'S MARINE CORPS CONTINUE THIS HONORABLE TRADITION OF BEARING ANY BURDEN, AS THEY VOLUNTARILY MAKE SACRIFICES IN THE DEFENSE OF OUR NATION. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LEON PANETTA RECENTLY STATED, "THIS COUNTRY WAS BUILT UPON THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF MEN AND WOMEN LIKE YOU.  OUR VERY DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON PEOPLE LIKE YOU, WHO ARE WILLING TO STEP FORWARD AND DEFEND THIS COUNTRY, TO SALUTE AND, YES, TO FIGHT TO GIVE EACH OF US A CHANCE TO PURSUE THE AMERICAN DREAM, GIVING OUR CHILDREN A BETTER LIFE."  THE NATION THANKS YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
3.  ARMED FORCES DAY CELEBRATES YOU - THE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, WHO HAVE STOOD FAST IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY WITH HONOR, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT.  WHEREVER YOU SERVE ON THIS DAY, PAUSE TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE; THOSE WHOSE SHOULDERS ON WHICH YOU STAND AND BE PROUD OF YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO OUR GREAT NATION AND CORPS.
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS. //