R 081738Z MAY 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 015/09
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/MOZART//
SUBJ/ARMED FORCES DAY MESSAGE//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  SINCE 1950, OUR NATION HAS SET ASIDE THE THIRD SATURDAY IN MAY TO HONOR THOSE AMERICANS WHO PROUDLY SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES.  THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DEFEND OUR FREEDOM BY SERVING IN THE ARMY, NAVY, MARINE CORPS, AIR FORCE, AND COAST GUARD FACE UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES.  DEPLOYED FOR MANY MONTHS TO AUSTERE LOCATIONS AROUND THE GLOBE, FAR FROM THE COMFORT OF HOME AND LOVED ONES, THEY SACRIFICE MUCH - AND SOMETIMES PAY THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE - SO THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS MAY SHARE IN THE BLESSINGS OF A FREE SOCIETY.
2.  THIS YEAR'S ARMED FORCES DAY FINDS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OUR NATION'S FINEST - BOTH ACTIVE AND RESERVE MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES - CONFRONTING THE FORCES OF GLOBAL TERRORISM.  FOR MANY, ARMED FORCES DAY WILL NOT BE A MATTER OF PARADES, PICNICS, AND SPEECHES, FOR THEY WILL BE IN HARM'S WAY.  THEIR COURAGE AND SELFLESS SERVICE IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM IS A STIRRING TESTAMENT TO OUR NATIONAL RESOLVE.
3.  AS WE CELEBRATE THIS 59TH OBSERVANCE OF ARMED FORCES DAY, I JOIN ALL AMERICANS IN SALUTING THE DETERMINATION AND SPIRIT OF AMERICA'S MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE WILLINGLY ANSWERED THE CALL OF PATRIOTIC SERVICE IN DEFENSE OF OUR GREAT NATION.
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//