P 211349Z APR 02  ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//MR//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS  //N07200//
ALMAR 022/02
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MR//
SUBJ/NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK 21-27 APRIL 2002//
POC/CATHERINE REYNOLDS/NF4/MRZ/-/TEL:703-784-9540/TEL:DSN 278-9540//
RMKS/1.  "CELEBRATE THE AMERICAN SPIRIT - VOLUNTEER!" IS THE THEME
FOR THE 29TH ANNUAL NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK, 21-27 APRIL 2002.  THIS
WEEK IS SET ASIDE TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE EFFORTS OF
VOLUNTEERS AT ALL LEVELS AND A TIME TO SAY "THANK YOU" TO THE MANY
PEOPLE WHO CHANGE THE WORLD BY VOLUNTEERING.  THEY VOLUNTEER WITH
NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, MARINES, CIVILIAN MARINES, FAMILY MEMBERS AND
STRANGERS TO MAKE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND
INSTALLATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.  BY CELEBRATING THE VOLUNTEER
SPIRIT WE ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE MARINE CORPS FAMILY TO HELP
MAKE A POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
2.  VOLUNTEERING IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY.  IT
IS ESTIMATED THAT EVERY HOUR OF VOLUNTEER EFFORT IS WORTH $15 BUT THE
BENEFIT CANNOT BE MEASURED MONETARILY ALONE.  THE SUPPORT OF
VOLUNTEERS IS CRITICAL FOR MANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE
QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES ACROSS THE CORPS.
WHETHER THE COMMITMENT IS FOR LONG OR SHORT-TERM, OUR VOLUNTEERS GIVE
OF THEMSELVES FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYONE.
3.  DIANE AND I EXTEND OUR PERSONAL THANKS TO ALL VOLUNTEERS FOR
THEIR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS.  I URGE COMMANDERS TO MAKE TIME DURING
THIS NATIONAL CELEBRATION TO CONVEY GRATITUDE AND TO RECOGNIZE
VOLUNTEERS WITH APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES THAT DEMONSTRATE THE MARINE
CORPS APPRECIATION FOR THEIR EFFORTS.
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS.  J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
BT