R 231500Z APR 03
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
ALMAR 025/03
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRZ//
SUBJ/MILITARY SPOUSE DAY//
RMKS/1.  SINCE 1984, THE FRIDAY BEFORE MOTHER'S DAY HAS
BEEN SET ASIDE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
BY MILITARY SPOUSES.  FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2003, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED
MILITARY SPOUSE DAY.
2.  DESPITE THE DAILY CHALLENGES OF MILITARY LIFE INCLUDING
DEPLOYMENTS, FAMILY SEPARATIONS, AND FREQUENT MOVES, OUR SPOUSES
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE STABILITY THAT ALLOWS OUR MARINES TO
PERFORM THEIR ASSIGNED MISSION.  
3.  CURRENT OPERATIONS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN HAVE GREATLY
INCREASED THE CHALLENGES OUR SPOUSES FACE AND THE SACRIFICES THEY
CONTINUE TO MAKE.  NOT ONLY ARE THESE SPOUSES SUPPORTING THEIR OWN
FAMILIES, MANY PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OTHER MARINE CORPS FAMILIES
THROUGH VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE KEY VOLUNTEER NETWORK AND
L.I.N.K.S.  THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THESE SPOUSES OFTEN REQUIRE LONG
HOURS AND SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL SACRIFICE, YET THEIR OVERWHELMING
LOYALTY AND ENTHUSIASM ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS
OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.
4.  AS WE CELEBRATE MILITARY SPOUSE DAY, I ENCOURAGE EACH MARINE TO
TAKE THE TIME TO THANK YOUR SPOUSE FOR A JOB WELL DONE.  SILKE AND I
CONGRATULATE ALL MARINE CORPS SPOUSES FOR THEIR MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
AND WE WISH TO EXPRESS OUR HEARTFELT APPRECIATION FOR YOUR CONTINUED
SUPPORT AND DEDICATION.
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
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