R 111839Z SEP 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 031/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/62ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, I AM HONORED TO CONGRATULATE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR 62ND ANNIVERSARY.  SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT AS AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE ON 18 SEPTEMBER 1947, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE HAVE PERFORMED ADMIRABLY IN THEIR SERVICE TO OUR NATION, AND THEY EXEMPLIFY THE AIR FORCE MOTTO OF "INTEGRITY FIRST, SERVICE BEFORE SELF, AND EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO."
2.  FROM KOREA'S MIG ALLEY AND VIETNAM'S THUD RIDGE, TO THE SKIES OVER IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, THE AIR FORCE HAS CONSISTENTLY PROVIDED OUR NATION WITH AIR COMBAT SUPERIORITY FOR OVER SIX DECADES.  TODAY, THE AIR FORCE HAS PROVIDED THE FULL SPECTRUM OF AIR POWER IN SUPPORT OF GROUND COMMANDERS PROSECUTING THE WAR ON TERROR.
3.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR RICH PAST, KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT AND ADMIRATION OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.  WE ARE PROUD TO STAND SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER WITH THE WORLD'S FINEST AIR FORCE.
4.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND SEMPER FIDELIS.  JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//