R 161945Z Nov 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 037/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/2009 THANKSGIVING SAFETY MESSAGE//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. OUR NATIONAL SECURITY DEPENDS ON YOU - THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILLINGLY GO INTO HARM'S WAY - SACRIFICING TIME WITH YOUR FAMILIES TO DEFEND OUR FREEDOMS AND WAY OF LIFE. FOR YOUR SERVICE IN ANSWERING OUR NATION'S CALL IN A TIME OF WAR, YOU HAVE EARNED HER ETERNAL GRATITUDE.
2. AS YOU PREPARE FOR THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REFLECT ON THE BLESSINGS OF THE PAST YEAR, TO REMEMBER OUR COMRADES DEPLOYED FAR FROM HOME, AND TO ENJOY YOUR OWN WELL-DESERVED TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. BY ALL MEANS, HAVE FUN. BUT AS YOU CELEBRATE, PLEASE USE SOUND JUDGMENT AND COMMON SENSE TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS. YOU ARE A CHERISHED MEMBER OF AN ELITE FRATERNITY; YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR CORPS ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO RETURN SAFELY.
3. LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS - ESPECIALLY OUR NCOS - SHOULD DISCUSS HOLIDAY PLANS WITH THEIR MARINES.  YOUR LEADERSHIP MAKES A DECISIVE, LIFE-OR-DEATH DIFFERENCE HERE AT HOME, JUST AS IT DOES ON THE BATTLEFIELD. I TRUST EACH OF YOU WILL TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER AND ENSURE EVERY MARINE REMAINS IN THE FIGHT.
4. HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//