UNCLASSIFIED
DTG (ZULU) 190229Z OCT 07
ALMAR 044/07
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY MESSAGE - 10 NOVEMBER 2007//
POC/SGT M. BELL/ADMIN CHIEF/CMC STAFF GROUP/-/TEL:(703) 614-2326//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  SINCE THE BIRTH OF OUR NATION, OUR LIBERTY HAS BEEN
PURCHASED BY VALIANT MEN AND WOMEN OF DEEP CONVICTION, GREAT COURAGE, AND
BOLD ACTION; THE COST HAS OFTEN BEEN IN BLOOD AND TREMENDOUS SACRIFICE.  AS
AMERICAS SENTINELS OF FREEDOM, UNITED STATES MARINES ARE COUNTED AMONG THE
FINEST LEGIONS IN THE CHRONICLES OF WAR. SINCE 1775, MARINES HAVE MARCHED
BOLDLY TO THE SOUNDS OF THE GUNS AND HAVE FOUGHT FIERCELY AND HONORABLY TO
DEFEAT THE SCOURGE OF TYRANNY AND TERROR. WE ARE MARINES - THAT IS WHAT WE
DO.
2.  IN THE WORDS OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY: "IN THE LONG HISTORY OF THE
WORLD, ONLY A FEW GENERATIONS HAVE BEEN GRANTED THE ROLE OF DEFENDING
FREEDOM IN ITS HOUR OF MAXIMUM DANGER."  MAGNIFICENT HEROES FOUGHT IN THE
WHEAT FIELDS OF BELLEAU WOOD, IN THE SNOWS OF THE CHOSIN, AND ON THE STREETS
OF HUE CITY.  YOUR GENERATION BEARS THIS OBLIGATION NOW, AND IT IS BORNE ON
MIGHTY AND CAPABLE SHOULDERS.  JUST LIKE THE MARINES AT BELLEAU WOOD - WE
ARE ONCE AGAIN ENGAGED IN SUSTAINED OPERATIONS ASHORE.  JUST LIKE AT BELLEAU
WOOD - THE MARINES HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE TOUGHEST SECTOR AND HAVE PREVAILED
OVER A RESILIENT AND DETERMINED ENEMY - WHO HAS MADE US PAY FOR OUR GAINS.
ONCE AGAIN, AS IN ANY STRUGGLE, THE ROAD AHEAD IS FAR FROM CERTAIN, BUT AS
MARINES, WE ARE NOT DISSUADED BY THE CHALLENGES OF WAR OR THE TOUGH
CONDITIONS OF A WARRIOR'S LIFE.
INDEED, WE DON'T JUST ACCEPT OUR DESTINY - WE SHAPE IT.  
 3.  ON OUR 232ND BIRTHDAY, TO EVERY MARINE - THOSE STILL IN UNIFORM AND
THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED HONORABLY IN THE PAST - BE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE AND
WHAT YOU DO.  KNOW THAT YOUR CITIZENSHIP DUES HAVE BEEN PAID IN FULL; YOU
ARE PART OF THIS NATION'S ELITE WARRIOR CLASS.
CHERISH OUR FAMILIES WHO OFFER MARVELOUS SUPPORT, ABIDING RESOLVE, AND
STEADFAST PATIENCE.  REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND THOSE WHO HAVE
FALLEN - THEIR NAMES ARE CHISELED ON THE ROLL CALL OF AMERICA'S HEROES.
THOSE WHO HAVE CARRIED THE BATTLE COLORS OF OUR CORPS HAVE FORGED OUR
HERITAGE, AND TODAY'S GENERATION OF LEATHERNECKS CHART OUR FUTURE. CARRY THE
COLORS WITH PRIDE; CARRY THEM WITH HONOR.
4.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARINES! SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S.
MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS//