R 192321Z Dec 08
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 053/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC SD//
SUBJ/2008 WINTER HOLIDAY SAFETY MESSAGE//
POC/JAMES GRACE/COL/UNIT:DIR, SAFETY DIVISION/-/TEL:7036142147//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  MARINES, AS THE YEAR DRAWS TO A CLOSE AND WE
BEGIN TO ANTICIPATE THE WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON, I HOPE YOU TAKE TIME
TO REFLECT UPON THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 2008, BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND
AS A CORPS.  ONCE AGAIN, YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT THE DEDICATION,
PROFESSIONALISM, AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE OF UNITED STATES MARINES
AND SAILORS ARE UNPARALLELED.
2.  WHILE CONTINUING TO BUILD UPON THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, MANY OF
YOU WILL SPEND THE HOLIDAYS FAR AWAY FROM YOUR LOVED ONES.  YOUR
SELFLESS SACRIFICE, DEVOTION TO DUTY, AND FIGHTING SPIRIT ENABLE THE
REST OF AMERICA TO CELEBRATE IN PEACE AND SECURITY.  ALLOW THIS
THOUGHT TO STRENGTHEN YOUR RESOLVE AS YOU CONTINUE TO TAKE THE FIGHT
TO OUR NATION'S ENEMIES, LIKE ONLY MARINES CAN.  WHERE POSSIBLE,
TAKE TIME TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH YOUR FELLOW WARRIORS.
3.  FOR THOSE OF YOU AT HOME, TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY A WELL
DESERVED BREAK WITH YOUR FAMILY.  WHILE DOING SO, BE MINDFUL OF THE
HAZARDS OF WINTER TRAVEL AND RECREATION.  WE STILL LOSE TOO MANY
MARINES TO OFF-DUTY ACCIDENTS.  I EXPECT EACH OF YOU TO WATCH OUT
FOR YOUR COMRADES-IN-ARMS; YOUR INVOLVEMENT MAY SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.
4.  FINALLY, I WISH ALL OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES A SAFE AND JOYOUS
HOLIDAY SEASON AND LOOK FORWARD TO HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING IN
2009.  THE MARINE CORPS NEEDS EACH OF YOU BACK SAFELY TO MAKE THIS
HAPPEN.
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//