R 151530Z DEC 03
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
ALMAR 074/03
MSID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/2003 HOLIDAY SEASON//
RMKS/1.  HAPPY HOLIDAYS! SILKE AND I WISH TO EXTEND THE SEASON S
GREETINGS TO THE ENTIRE MARINE FAMILY AND TO WISH ALL OF YOU THE
BEST IN THE NEW YEAR.
2.  THE TRUE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS EXPRESSED IN THE WORDS
 PEACE ON EARTH AND GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN.   IN THE PAST YEAR OUR
CORPS SACRIFICED MUCH TOWARD OBTAINING THAT IDEAL BUT THERE IS MUCH
MORE TO BE DONE.  THE COMING YEAR IS SURE TO OFFER ALL OF US NEW
CHALLENGES AND FRESH DEMANDS.  NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THIS BETTER OR
WILL FEEL IT MORE SHARPLY THAN THE MARINE FAMILY.  BECAUSE OF THIS,
WE SHOULD ALL MAKE THE EXTRA EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT WE CELEBRATE OUR
HOLIDAYS WITH THOSE WE LOVE IN A MANNER THAT STRENGTHENS OUR MOST
IMPORTANT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.  FOR THOSE MARINES DEPLOYED OR
SEPARATED FROM LOVED ONES DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, KNOW THAT YOU
ARE IN YOUR FAMILY S THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AND THAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE RESPECT AND HONOR YOUR SERVICE.
3.  JUST AS THE HOLIDAYS ARE A TIME FOR JOYOUS CELEBRATION, THEY ARE
A TIME FOR EXTRA CAUTION.  DURING LAST YEAR S HOLIDAY SEASON FIVE
MARINES WERE KILLED IN OFF-DUTY MISHAPS.  THE LOSS OF EVEN ONE
MEMBER OF THE MARINE FAMILY IS A TRAGEDY, BUT WHEN AN ACCIDENT OR
MISHAP IS DUE TO POOR RISK MANAGEMENT IT IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE.  
4.  MOTOR VEHICLE MISHAPS CONTINUE TO BE THE LEADING KILLER OF
MARINES.  USE YOUR SEATBELT, AND MAKE SURE ALL PASSENGERS BUCKLE UP.
MAKE SURE THAT CHILDREN ARE IN AN APPROVED AND PROPERLY INSTALLED
SAFETY SEAT.  ALWAYS REMEMBER THERE IS NEVER AN EXCUSE FOR DRINKING
AND DRIVING AND IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCES, BE SURE
TO EXAMINE THE RISKS.  SOMETIMES AN ALTERNATE FORM OF TRANSPORTATION
IS A BETTER OPTION ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER SEASON WHEN ROADS ARE
OFTEN ICY, DARK, AND CROWDED.  PLAN YOUR LIBERTY AS YOU WOULD ANY
OTHER IMPORTANT MISSION AND YOU WILL SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASE YOUR
CHANCES OF BEING INVOLVED IN A MISHAP.  LASTLY, JUST AS MARINE
LEADERS WOULD NEVER SEND MARINES IN HARMS WAY WITHOUT SETTING THEM UP
FOR SUCCESS, I CHARGE THE LEADERS OF OUR CORPS, ESPECIALLY OUR NCO S,
TO PERSONALLY REVIEW THE TRAVEL PLANS OF THEIR MARINES.  SAFETY IS A
LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY.
5.  SILKE AND I SHARE A CHRISTMAS WISH THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE MARINE
FAMILY RETURNS FROM THEIR HOLIDAY TRAVELS HEALTHY, REFRESHED, AND
READY FOR WHATEVER OUR NATION REQUIRES OF US.  HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MAY
YOU ALL ENJOY THE BLESSINGS OF THE SEASON.  
6.  SEMPER FIDELIS AND KEEP ATTACKING!  M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S.
MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//