R 081549Z APR 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 008/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MR//
SUBJ/VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK//
POC/KIM MCGOLDRICK/NF-03/UNIT:MRZ/-/TEL:703-784-9540//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THE WEEK OF 19-25 APRIL IS DESIGNATED NATIONAL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK.  THE UNITED STATES HAS ALWAYS DEVELOPED A REPUTATION FOR BEING A NATION OF VOLUNTEERS.  VOLUNTEERS ARE THE VERY BACKBONE OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT; FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR TO PRESENT DAY, IT HAS ALWAYS FALLEN ON OUR CITIZENS TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TALENT, TIME, AND ENERGY TO THOSE IDEAS THAT KEEP AMERICA A STRONG COMMUNITY NATION.
2.  MARINE CORPS VOLUNTEERS ARE THE ELITE FEW WHO PUT COMMUNITY FIRST; THEY ARE THE STRONGEST AND MOST DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE SERVICES; THEY RECOGNIZE THAT IF THE MARINE AND THEIR FAMILY ARE NOT READY, READINESS SUFFERS.  THEY DONT LOOK FOR MONETARY GAIN OR PRAISE; THEIR REWARD LIES IN THE 'THANK YOU' FROM THE MARINES AND FAMILY MEMBERS THEY ASSIST.  OUR VOLUNTEERS RECOGNIZE THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND, THROUGH THE STRENGTH OF THEIR CONVICTIONS AND KNOWLEDGE OF PURPOSE, THEY CONTRIBUTE DAILY TO OUR ABILITY TO DEFEND OUR NATION.
3.  WITH THIS SAME CONVICTION OF PURPOSE, SUPPORT, AND DEDICATION OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, MY WIFE, ANNETTE, AND I EXTEND OUR PERSONAL 'THANK YOU' TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO GIVE SO MUCH OF THEMSELVES.  I ENCOURAGE ALL MARINES TO TAKE TIME TO CONVEY TO OUR VOLUNTEERS THE MUCH DESERVED GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION OF A GRATEFUL CORPS, AND I ENCOURAGE COMANDERS TO PLAN AND CONDUCT APPROPRITATE EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES WHICH DEMONSTRATE OUR CORPS' APPRECIATION FOR THEIR SELFLESS SERVICE.
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//