R 302143Z JUL 10
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 028/10
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/220TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  IT IS WITH SINCERE PLEASURE THAT I CONGRATULATE THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD ON THEIR 220TH ANNIVERSARY.
2.  ESTABLISHED 4 AUGUST 1790, IN THE EARLY DAYS OF OUR REPUBLIC, THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD HAS GROWN TO ONE OF THE GREATEST SEAGOING SERVICES IN THE WORLD.  DURING WORLD WAR II, COAST GUARDSMEN SERVED AS COXSWAINS OF LANDING CRAFT THAT CARRIED MARINES ACROSS THE BEACH FROM GUADALCANAL TO IWO JIMA.  DURING THE COLD WAR, U.S. COAST GUARDSMEN COURAGEOUSLY RESCUED DOWNED MARINE CORPS AVIATORS FROM THE HOSTILE WATERS OFF VIETNAM.
3.  "ALWAYS READY," YOUR DEDICATED EFFORTS IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM IN RECENT YEARS REFLECT YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR NATION.  ON BEHALF OF MARINES EVERYWHERE, I TAKE PLEASURE IN SALUTING YOUR PROUD HERITAGE, VALOR, AND HONORABLE SERVICE ON THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION.
4.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND SEMPER FIDELIS.  JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//