R 251712Z JAN 10
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 002/10
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/1ST MARINE DIVISION ANNIVERSARY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  IT IS MY GREAT HONOR TO CONGRATULATE THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 69TH ANNIVERSARY.  FROM ACTIVATION ON 1 FEBRUARY 1941 TO THE PRESENT, THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION HAS STEADFASTLY DEMONSTRATED ITS WARFIGHTING EXCELLENCE IN FULFILLING AN UNPARALLED LEGACY OF DEVOTED SERVICE AND SACRIFICE TO OUR NATION.
2.  FROM THE PACIFIC CAMPAIGNS OF WORLD WAR II AND THE FROZEN MOUNTAINS OF KOREA, TO THE JUNGLES OF VIETNAM AND THE CURRENT BATTLEFIELDS OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, THE DEDICATED MARINES OF "THE OLD BREED" HAVE STOOD READY TO DEFEND OUR FREEDOM AND OUR VITAL NATIONAL INTERESTS.
3.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR ANNIVERSARY AND REFLECT UPON YOUR RICH HERITAGE, PLEASE PAUSE TO REMEMBER YOUR FALLEN COMRADES, PAST AND PRESENT, WHO WILLINGLY GAVE THE HIGHEST SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.  THEIR LEGACY OF COURAGE, BOLDNESS, AND DEVOTION TO DUTY CONTINUES TO INSPIRE THE MARINES OF TODAY AND TOMORROW. 
4.  CONGRATULATIONS AND SEMPER FIDELIS.  JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//