R 211353Z MAY 10
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 018/10
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/MEMORIAL DAY SAFETY MESSAGE//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. OUR NATION CELEBRATES MEMORIAL DAY BY REMEMBERING AND HONORING THOSE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES ON BEHALF OF FREEDOM AND OUR AMERICAN VALUES.  I KNOW THAT AS YOU EXECUTE YOUR MISSION AROUND THE GLOBE, MARINES AND SAILORS CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THESE IDEALS.  I ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO USE THIS OCCASION TO REFLECT UPON THE SACRIFICES MADE BY OUR FALLEN WARRIORS AND TO REDEDICATE YOURSELVES TO THE CORE VALUES AND WARRIOR ETHOS THEIR SACRIFICES EPITOMIZE.
2. TAKE TIME TO CELEBRATE THIS TRADITIONAL START OF SUMMER WITH YOUR COMRADES AND FAMILY, BUT DO SO RESPONSIBLY.  ON AVERAGE, 12,758 PEOPLE DIE ON OUR HIGHWAYS BETWEEN MEMORIAL DAY AND LABOR DAY; NEARLY 500 OF THOSE DEATHS WILL OCCUR THIS WEEKEND ALONE.  SADLY, SOME MAY LIKELY BE MARINES.  LAST YEAR, WE LOST 5 MARINES IN RECREATIONAL AND OFF-DUTY MISHAPS AND 8 MARINES IN PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLE MISHAPS BETWEEN MEMORIAL DAY AND LABOR DAY.
3. YOU CAN HELP PREVENT THESE TRAGEDIES BY TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER, PLANNING APPROPRIATELY, AND INCORPORATING RISK MANAGEMENT IN BOTH ON- AND OFF-DUTY ACTIVITIES.  LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS, AND NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS IN PARTICULAR, ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. THIS IS EVIDENCED BY THE DECREASE IN FATALITIES THIS YEAR OVER THIS SAME POINT IN PREVIOUS YEARS.  REMEMBER, YOU ARE A MARINE 24-7. CONDUCT YOURSELVES ACCORDINGLY, STAY SAFE, AND RETURN TO THE FIGHT. ENJOY YOUR WELL DESERVED TIME OFF.
4. SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//