R 101151Z MAY 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 018/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS //
SUBJ/ARMED FORCES DAY 2011//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  SINCE 1950, OUR NATION HAS SET ASIDE THE THIRD SATURDAY IN MAY, ARMED FORCES DAY, TO HONOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICES OF THOSE WHO SERVE IN ALL BRANCHES OF THE MILITARY.  AS WE CELEBRATE THIS YEAR'S ARMED FORCES DAY ON 21 MAY, WE EXTEND DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM AS WE STRIVE TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE. 
2.  THIS 61ST OBSERVANCE OF ARMED FORCES DAY FINDS OUR SERVICEMEMBERS COMMITTED TO COMBAT OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN, PROVIDING AID TO PEOPLE DEVASTATED BY THE EARTHQUAKES AND TSUNAMI IN JAPAN AND ACTING AS A CRISIS RESPONSE FORCE.  AS WE CELEBRATE WITH PARADES, PICNICS AND OTHER FESTIVITIES HERE AT HOME, REMEMBER OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS-IN-ARMS WHO ARE DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
3.  IN THE WORDS OF OUR 34TH PRESIDENT, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, "IT IS FITTING AND PROPER THAT WE DEVOTE ONE DAY EACH YEAR TO PAYING SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHOSE CONSTANCY AND COURAGE CONSITUTE ONE OF THE BULWARKS GUARDING THE FREEDOM OF THIS NATION AND THE PEACE OF THE FREE WORLD."  THIS ARMED FORCES DAY, MARINES SERVING AROUND THE GLOBE SALUTE ALL WHO HAVE SERVED IN ANY BRANCH OF OUR MILITARY. 
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//