R 031331Z NOV 08 ZYB
ALMAR 049/08
UNCLAS
GENTEXT/REMARKS/
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC HD/CMC//
SUBJ/VETERANS DAY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON 11 NOVEMBER 1918, AN ARMISTICE WAS SIGNED
THAT EFFECTIVELY ENDED THE FIRST WORLD WAR AFTER FOUR YEARS OF
GLOBAL CONFLICT.  ONE YEAR LATER, ON 11 NOVEMBER 1919, PRESIDENT
WOODROW WILSON ISSUED A PROCLAMATION TO COMMEMORATE THE HISTORIC
EVENT, AND CALLED UPON ALL AMERICANS TO OBSERVE "ARMISTICE DAY" BY
TAKING "SOLEMN PRIDE IN THE HEROISM OF THOSE WHO DIED IN THE
COUNTRY'S SERVICE."
2.  THE WORDS OF OUR 28TH PRESIDENT RESONATE AS CLEAR AND RELEVANT
TODAY IN OUR OBSERVANCE OF VETERANS DAY EVERY NOVEMBER 11TH.
CELEBRATED AS ARMISTICE DAY UNTIL 1954, VETERANS DAY PROVIDES ALL
AMERICANS A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO PAY TRIBUTE AND TAKE "SOLEMN
PRIDE" IN THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE WILLINGLY WORN THE CLOTH OF OUR
NATION, MANY OF WHOM PAID THE HIGHEST SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF
FREEDOM.   THE SOLDIERS, SAILORS, MARINES, AIRMEN, AND COAST
GUARDSMEN WHO TODAY HEROICALLY DEFEND OUR NATION AND ALL
FREEDOM-LOVING PEOPLE AGAINST THE FORCES OF TERRORISM AND
OPPRESSION, SHARE IN THE PROUD TRADITION OF AMERICA'S VETERANS.
3.   ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE MARINE CORPS, I AM HONORED TO SALUTE
THE STALWART MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES - PAST AND PRESENT -
FOR THEIR SELFLESS DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE ON BEHALF OF OUR GREAT
NATION.
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//