R 191236Z MAY 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 018/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/MEMORIAL DAY SAFETY MESSAGE//
REF/A/WWW.SAFETYCENTER.NAVY.MIL/STATISTICS/CRITICALDAYS/DEFAULT.HTM//
AMPN/REF A IS NAVAL SAFETY CENTER WEBSITE THAT CONTAINS STATISTICAL DATA AND PREVIOUS MISHAP SUMMARIES.//
GENTEXT/RMKS/1. THIS MEMORIAL DAY, MARINES IN THE MOUNTAINS OF AFGHANISTAN, THE DESERTS OF IRAQ AND ALL AROUND THE WORLD WILL JOIN OUR NATION IN REMEMBERING THE MANY PATRIOTS WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE NATION'S CALL WITH THEIR VERY LIVES. FIRST ENACTED TO HONOR UNION SOLDIERS OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, THIS HOLIDAY HAS GROWN TO COMMEMORATE AMERICAN CASUALTIES OF ANY WAR OR MILITARY ACTION.
2. IN ADDITION TO RECOGNIZING THE HEROIC SACRIFICE OF THOSE KILLED IN BATTLE, AMERICANS VIEW MEMORIAL DAY AS THE UNOFFICIAL START OF SUMMER. TRAGICALLY, IT ALSO MARKS THE BEGINNING OF A PERIOD OF INCREASED ACCIDENTAL DEATHS AND INJURIES.  IF THE NEXT 101 DAYS ARE LIKE THOSE OF THE PAST SIX YEARS, TWENTY-ONE MARINES WILL DIE AS A RESULT OF EXCESS ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION OR UNSAFE HANDLING OF MOTORCYCLES.  ONE MARINE WILL LIKELY DIE THIS WEEKEND-NEEDLESSLY.  WHILE MARINES PRACTICE OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT (ORM) IN TRAINING AS WELL AS IN COMBAT, THEY OFTEN FAIL TO DO SO OFF-DUTY.  A REVIEW OF OFF-DUTY MISHAPS LEADING TO INJURIES AND DEATHS REVEALS THAT ORM IS KEY TO PREVENTION.  I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO REVIEW THE SAD LESSONS DETAILED IN REF (A), AS PART OF THEIR PRE-HOLIDAY BRIEFS.
3.  THIS MEMORIAL DAY, AS YOU REFLECT ON THE HEROISM OF THE MARINES AND SAILORS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF OUR NATION, HONOR THEIR SACRIFICE THROUGH YOUR OWN DEDICATION TO PROTECTING AMERICA.  ENSURE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO FULFILL THIS COMMITMENT BY INCLUDING PROPER PLANNING AND RISK ASSESSMENT IN ALL THAT YOU DO. HAVE A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY!
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, J. T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//