R 022042Z OCT 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 032/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/234TH BIRTHDAY OF THE U.S. NAVY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, I AM HONORED TO SALUTE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 234TH BIRTHDAY ON 13 OCTOBER.  SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS OF OUR GREAT REPUBLIC, WHEN A SMALL BUT HIGHLY-RESPECTED FLEET OF SAILING SHIPS COURAGEOUSLY DEFENDED OUR SHORES, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE COME TO DEPEND ON THE STRENGTH AND DEDICATION OF THE WORLD'S FINEST NAVY.

2.  WHETHER FIGHTING VALIANTLY FROM THE RIGGING OF THE ORIGINAL BONHOMME RICHARD, STORMING THE BEACHES OF IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA, OR PATROLLING THE JUNGLES OF VIETNAM AND THE HELMAND RIVER VALLEY OF AFGHANISTAN, THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS TEAM HAS ACHIEVED UNRIVALLED MASTERY OF THE SEA, AIR, AND LAND.  WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGED ENEMIES AROUND THE GLOBE IN DEFENSE OF OUR NATION'S FREEDOM, WHILE ALWAYS STANDING READY TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN RELIEF TO THOSE IN NEED.  IN THE CURRENT STRUGGLE AGAINST VIOLENT EXTREMISM, OUR BOND HAS BEEN A BEACON OF HOPE TO THOSE WHO WOULD RESIST THE FORCES OF TYRANNY AND OPRESSION.

3.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR ILLUSTRIOUS PAST AND LOOK TO THE FUTURE, KNOW THAT THE MARINE CORPS WILL ALWAYS BE PROUD TO STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH OUR NAVY BRETHERN IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.

4.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHIPMATES AND SEMPER FIDELIS!  JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//