R 101213Z SEP 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 030/09
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/3D MARINE DIVISION ANNIVERSARY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  IT IS MY PLEASURE TO SALUTE THE WARRIORS OF THE 3D MARINE DIVISION AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 67TH ANNIVERSARY.  ACTIVATED ON 16 SEPTEMBER 1942 AT CAMP ELLIOTT, CALIFORNIA, THE "FIGHTING THIRD" HAS ESTABISHED AN ENDURING LEGACY OF DEDICATED SERVICE AND SACRIFICE TO OUR GREAT NATION.
2.  FROM THE JUNGLES OF BOUGAINVILLE AND THE NORTHERN SOLOMON ISLANDS TO THE BLACK SANDS OF IWO JIMA, AND FROM THE RICE PADDIES OF VIETNAM TO THE DESERTS OF THE PERSIAN GULF, THE 3D MARINE DIVISION HAS WILLINGLY FACED THE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGES IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.  THE 42 MEDALS OF HONOR THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO MARINES AND HOSPITAL CORPSMEN OF THE 3D MARINE DIVISION ARE SOLEMN AFFIRMATION OF THEIR DEDICATION, COURAGE, AND SELF-SACRIFCE.
3.  IN RECENT YEARS, YOUR WARFIGHTING CAPABILITIES HAVE BEEN SUPERBLY DEMONSTRATED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, WHILE YOUR SUPPORT OF HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC HAS BROUGHT CREDIT UPON OUR NATION.
4.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR RICH HERITAGE AND MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PLEASE PAUSE TO REMEMBER YOUR FELLOW MARINES WHO GAVE THE LAST MEASURE OF THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.  THEIR WILLING SELF-SACRIFICE CONTINUES TO INSPIRE ALL MARINES AND ENRICHES YOUR PROUD HERITAGE.
5.  HAPPY ANNIVERSAY AND SEMPER FIDELIS MARINES.
6.  JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//