R 301653Z OCT 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 036/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/VETERANS DAY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS ARMISTICE DAY, THE VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY WAS CREATED TO COMMEMORATE THE END OF WORLD WAR I.  IN 1954, PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER SIGNED A BILL SPECIFYING THAT 11 NOVEMBER WOULD THERAFTER BE KNOWN AS VETERANS DAY TO HONOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN AMERICA'S ARMED FORCES.
2.  THE PROCLAMATION THAT ACCOMPANIED THE BILL INCLUDED THE 34TH PRESIDENT'S DESIRE THAT AMERICANS "WOULD SOLEMNLY REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES OF ALL THOSE WHO FOUGHT SO VALIANTLY, ON THE SEAS, IN THE AIR, AND ON FOREIGN SHORES TO PRESERVE OUR HERITAGE OF FREEDOM."  IT ALSO CALLED UPON THE CITIZENS OF OUR REPUBLIC TO "RECONSECRATE OURSELVES TO THE TASK OF PROMOTING AN ENDURING PEACE SO THAT THEIR EFFORTS SHALL NOT HAVE BEEN IN VAIN."
3.  MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY HAS PASSED SINCE THE HOLIDAY'S NAME WAS FORMALLY CHANGED TO ITS PRESENT "VETERANS DAY."  OVER THAT TIME, AMERICANS HAVE CONTINUED TO SET ASIDE 11 NOVEMBER AS A SPECIAL DAY OF SOLEMN OBSERVANCE AND REFLECTION TO HONOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE PROUDLY WORN THE UNIFORMS OF THE ARMY, NAVY, MARINE CORPS, AIR FORCE, AND COAST GUARD.  OUR WARRIORS' UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE IDEALS UPON WHICH OUR REPUBLIC WAS FOUNDED HAS BROUGHT PEACE AND PROSPERITY NOT ONLY TO OUR OWN NATION, BUT TO COUNTLESS OPPRESSED PEOPLES AROUND THE GLOBE.
4.  TODAY, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES ONCE AGAIN SERVE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE BATTLE AGAINST VIOLENT EXTREMISM.  THEIR SACRIFICES IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM HAVE BROUGHT HOPE TO THOSE WHO SHARE OUR NATION'S DESIRE FOR PEACE AND LIBERTY.  I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF OUR MARINES, PAST AND PRESENT, AS PART OF THIS EXTRAORDINARY TRADITION IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.  IT IS MY GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR DEVOTION TO OUR MARINE CORPS AND TO OUR GREAT NATION. 
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS, MARINES.  JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//