R 251258z JUL 08
ALMAR 030/08
COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC(UC)
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC HD//
SUBJ/218TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, I SALUTE THE MEN AND
WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 218TH
ANNIVERSARY.  SINCE ITS FOUNDING ON 4 AUGUST 1790, THE COAST GUARD
HAS PROVIDED DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN PROTECTING THE SAFETY AND
SECURITY OF OUR NATION.
2.  THE MARINE CORPS HAS BEEN PROUD TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU IN TIMES
OF BOTH WAR AND PEACE.  DURING WORLD WAR II, COAST GUARD SIGNALMAN
FIRST CLASS DOUGLAS ALBERT MUNRO DIED WHILE RESCUING A GROUP OF
MARINES NEAR THE MATANIKAU RIVER ON GUADALCANAL.  POSTHUMOUSLY
AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR, HIS BRAVERY AND SELF-SACRIFICE WILL
NEVER BE FORGOTTEN BY THE MARINE CORPS.
3.  AS THE NATION'S OLDEST CONTINUING SEAGOING SERVICE, THE COAST
GUARD'S MOTTO, SEMPER PARATUS - ALWAYS READY, HAS NEVER APPLIED MORE
DRAMATICALLY THAN AT PRESENT.  THE COAST GUARD HAS MADE ITS LARGEST
COMMITMENT TO PORT SECURITY OPERATIONS SINCE WORLD WAR II AND, AT
THE SAME TIME, DEPLOYED ITS LARGEST CONTINGENT OF COAST GUARD
MEMBERS OVERSEAS SINCE THE VIETNAM WAR IN SUPPORT OF THE GLOBAL WAR
ON TERROR.  YOUR PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING AND ADMIRABLY
REFLECTS THE COAST GUARD'S CORE VALUES OF HONOR, RESPECT, AND
DEVOTION TO DUTY.
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//