R 301634Z JUN 08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/67TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1ST MARINE AIRCRAFT WING//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE 1ST
MARINE AIRCRAFT WING AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 67TH ANNIVERSARY.  FROM
YOUR ACTIVATION AT QUANTICO, VIRGINIA ON 7 JULY 1941, TO THE
PRESENT, THE 1ST MAW HAS TAKEN GREAT PRIDE IN ITS ABILITY TO DEPLOY
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ON LITTLE NOTICE IN THE DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.
2.  THE FIVE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATIONS AWARDED TO THE WARRIORS OF
1ST MAW SPAN THE BATTLEGROUNDS OF MORE THAN 65 YEARS OF MARINE CORPS
HISTORY - FROM THE FRONT LINES OF GUADALCANAL, TO THE SNOW AND ICE
OF THE CHOSIN RESERVOIR, TO THE JUNGLES OF VIETNAM - THE RESULT OF
EVERY BATTLE IS TESTIMONY OF 1ST MAW'S HISTORIC READINESS TO FIGHT
AND WIN.  TODAY, 1ST MAW MARINES AND SAILORS ARE IN THE FOREFRONT OF
THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR, AND YOUR COMMITMENT AND PERFORMANCE IN
AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ HAVE BEEN SUPERB.  YOUR SELFLESS HUMANITARIAN
SERVICE IS ALSO REFLECTED IN THE MANY DISASTER RELIEF MISSIONS
YOU'VE SUCCESSFULLY UNDERTAKEN IN CONTINENTS AROUND THE GLOBE FROM
ASIA TO AFRICA.
3.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR ANNIVERSARY AND PROUD HERITAGE, PLEASE
PAUSE TO REMEMBER YOUR MANY 1ST MAW COMRADES, PAST AND PRESENT, WHO
GAVE THE FINAL SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF OUR GREAT NATION.
4.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND SEMPER FIDELIS!  JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL,
U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS//