R 260800Z MAY 06
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL ALMAR(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 021/06
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE//
POC/S. B. CONRAD/LTCOL/SD/-/TEL:(703)614-2423
/EMAIL:SHANE.B.CONRAD@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS///
RMKS/1. OUR NATION HAS BEEN FORGED AND DEFENDED BY THE SACRIFICES
OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES, OUR VETERANS. MOST
VETERANS LIVE TO BE HONORED FOR THEIR SERVICE IN PEACETIME
OPERATIONS AND IN WAR. IN ADDITION TO FREQUENT FAMILY SEPARATIONS,
THEIR DUTIES HAVE BEEN HARD AND EVEN DANGEROUS. MANY HAVE SUFFERED
GRIEVOUS INJURIES AND WOUNDS FROM HOSTILE ACTIONS, AS WELL AS
DISABLING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EFFECTS. MANY HAVE NOT LIVED TO COME
HOME BECAUSE THEY MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. WE SALUTE OUR
VETERANS WHO DIED IN SERVICE AND MOURN WITH THEIR FAMILY AND LOVED
ONES. WE HONOR THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY
IN THE DEFENSE OF THIS GREAT NATION.
2. TODAY IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OUR FELLOW
MARINES ARE AGAIN SERVING THE NATION IN BATTLE. JUST LIKE THOSE WHO
SERVED THE NATION OVER THE PAST 230 YEARS, THEIR SELFLESS SERVICE
ENSURES OUR NATION'S CONTINUED SECURITY AND ADVANCES OUR IDEALS OF
FREEDOM.
3. THIS YEAR, THE MARINE CORPS AGAIN SUPPORTS THE NATIONAL MOMENT
OF REMEMBRANCE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO DIED IN SERVICE TO OUR
COUNTRY. I ENCOURAGE ALL MARINES TO JOIN THEIR FELLOW AMERICANS AT
1500 LOCAL TIME ON 29 MAY 2006 TO SOLEMNLY REFLECT ON THE DEEDS AND
SACRIFICES OF THOSE WHO FOUGHT AND FELL IN BATTLE IN DEFENSE OF OUR
LIBERTY. THEIR EXAMPLE INSPIRES US AS WARRIORS. IT DEEPENS OUR
RESOLVE TO ACT WITH HONOR, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT EVEN IN THE MOST
TRYING SITUATIONS, TO RESPECT EACH OTHER AND THE LIVES WE PROTECT,
AND TO SECURE FREEDOM AND DEFEND OUR NATION.
4. SEMPER FIDELIS, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//