FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
ALMAR 036/03
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC SD//
SUBJ/MEMORIAL DAY SAFETY MESSAGE//
RMKS/1.  MEMORIAL DAY BEGAN IN 1868 WHEN FLOWERS WERE PLACED ON THE
GRAVES OF UNION AND CONFEDERATE DEAD AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
AFTER WORLD WAR I, MEMORIAL DAY BECAME A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE,
HONORING ALL AMERICANS WHO DIED IN WAR.  THIS MEMORIAL DAY, MARINES
AND SAILORS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM ARE
ADDED TO THE ROLES OF THOSE WE REMEMBER.  
2.  MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ALSO MARKS THE START OF SUMMER.  THESE 101
CRITICAL DAYS ARE A TIME OF INCREASED TRAVEL AND A CORRESPONDING
INCREASE IN OFF-DUTY FATALITIES.  CONSIDER THAT LAST YEAR, 29 OF OUR
OFF-DUTY FATALITIES OCCURRED BETWEEN MEMORIAL DAY AND LABOR DAY.  A
QUARTER OF A YEAR ACCOUNTED FOR ALMOST 40% OF OUR OFF-DUTY
FATALITIES.  MEMORIAL DAY IS HISTORICALLY ONE OF THE DEADLIEST
HOLIDAYS FOR ALCOHOL RELATED TRAFFIC DEATHS.
3.  REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU CHOOSE TO CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY, ENSURE
YOU HAVE EXAMINED THE RISKS AND TAKEN APPROPRIATE STEPS TO ELIMINATE
THEM.  THE COMBINATION OF ALCOHOL AND DRIVING IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED,
WELL-KNOWN RISK THAT MUST BE ELIMINATED.  ADDITIONALLY, MANY SUMMER
ACTIVITIES DO NOT MIX WITH ALCOHOL.  SWIMMING, BOATING, AND OTHER
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES WHEN MIXED WITH ALCOHOL ARE AS DANGEROUS AS
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.  IF YOU PLAN TO DRINK, HAVE
A PLAN TO DO IT SAFELY.  ENJOY MEMORIAL DAY AND SUMMER'S ACTIVITIES
WITHOUT THE DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL.
4.  ACCEPT NO UNNECESSARY RISKS.  THIS APPLIES TO ALL ACTIVITIES, ON
AND OFF-DUTY.  AS MARINES, RISK IS A NECESSARY PART OF OUR
PROFESSION, BUT AS PROFESSIONALS, WE MANAGE THAT RISK.  OUR
TRAINING, GOOD JUDGMENT, AND COMMON SENSE WILL MINIMIZE RISK AND
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SURVIVING AND ENJOYING THE
HOLIDAY.    
5.  EARLIER THIS YEAR, A SPECIAL EDITION OF GROUND WARRIOR MAGAZINE
WAS DEVELOPED FOCUSING EXPLICITLY ON MOTOR VEHICLE MISHAPS.  A MARCH
RELEASE WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED, BUT DUE TO OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM,
IT WILL BE RELEASED IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR.  LOOK FOR IT SOON.  
6.  AS YOU CELEBRATE THIS MEMORIAL DAY, REMEMBER THE MARINES AND
SAILORS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF OUR NATION.  THEIR
DEATHS, WHILE TRAGIC, ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING.  DYING IN A NEEDLESS
MISHAP ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING.  THERE ARE NO MEMORIALS TO MARINES WHO
DIED ON LIBERTY.  HAVE A SAFE AND FUN HOLIDAY!
7.  SEMPER FIDELIS, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//