R 211942Z Jan 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 002/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/2D MARINE DIVISION ANNIVERSARY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, I AM HONORED TO CONGRATULATE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE 2D MARINE DIVISION AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 68TH ANNIVERSARY.  SINCE ITS ACTIVATION ON 1 FEBRUARY 1941, THE 2D MARINE DIVISION HAS ESTABLISHED A RECORD OF SERVICE TO OUR NATION THAT IS INDEED "SECOND TO NONE."
2.  FROM THE BEACHES OF TARAWA AND SAIPAN; TO POST-WAR CARIBBEAN, MEDITERRANEAN, AND AFRICAN SHORES; FROM LEBANON AND KUWAIT; AND NOW IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ, THE STALWART WARRIORS OF THE 2D MARINE DIVISION HAVE PROVEN TIME AND AGAIN THEIR READINESS TO TAKE ON THE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGES IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.
3.  IN RECENT YEARS, YOUR PEFORMANCE IN THE WAR ON TERROR HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING AND HAS EARNED THE ENDURING GRATITUDE OF YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS.  EACH OF YOU CAN TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE CONTRIBUTIONS YOU HAVE MADE TO FREEDOM AROUND THE GLOBE.  AS YOU REFLECT ON YOUR GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS, PLEASE PAUSE TO REMEMBER YOUR FALLEN COMRADES.
THEIR SACRIFICES IN DEFENSE OF THE VALUES WE HOLD DEAR WILL FOREVER REMAIN AS A LEGACY FOR ALL MARINES.
4.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND SEMPER FIDELIS!  JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.
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