R 251714Z JAN 10
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 003/10
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/2D MARINE DIVISION ANNIVERSARY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT I SALUTE THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE 2D MARINE DIVISION AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 69TH ANNIVERSARY.  FROM ACTIVATION ON 1 FEBRUARY 1941 TO THE PRESENT, YOUR LEGACY OF FIDELITY AND GALLANTRY IN DEFENDING OUR NATION IS TRULY "SECOND TO NONE."
2.  FROM GUADALCANAL, TARAWA, AND SAIPAN TO THE CARIBBEAN AND MEDITERRANEAN, AND FROM THE HORN OF AFRICA TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, THE 2D MARINE DIVISION HAS REPEATEDLY DEMONSTRATED ITS VERSATILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS.
3.  THE 2D MARINE DIVISION IS A HIGHLY ADAPTIVE TEAM DEDICATED TO THE MISSION AND HIGHEST STANDARDS OF THE MARINE CORPS.  WHETHER CONDUCTING HUMANITARIAN AND PEACE KEEPING MISSIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE, OR STANDING IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE CURRENT WAR ON TERRORISM, YOU CONTINUE TO WRITE NEW CHAPTERS IN YOUR DIVISION'S ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY.
4.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR PROUD HERITAGE AND MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN DEFENSE OF OUR NATION, PLEASE PAUSE TO REMEMBER THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICES OF THOSE MARINES WHO HAVE SERVED WITH PRIDE AND DISTINCTION IN THE 2D MARINE DIVISION.
5.  CONGRATULATIONS AND SEMPER FIDELIS.  JAMES T. CONWAY, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//