R 240815Z MAY 01
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS //N03000//
ALMAR 019/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/SD//
SUBJ/MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY SAFETY MESSAGE//
RMKS/1. DURING THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND WE WILL
HONOR THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE IN
DEFENDING THIS NATION AND OUR CHERISHED WAY OF LIFE. AS WE
PAY TRIBUTE TO THE SERVICE OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE GIVEN
THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF THIS NATION, WE SHOULD TAKE TIME TO
REFLECT ON THE MEANING OF THEIR SACRIFICE. OUR FREEDOM IS THE
LEGACY OF OUR FALLEN COMRADES. TODAY, IT IS MEN AND WOMEN SUCH
AS YOURSELVES, WILLING TO RISK ALL FOR OTHERS, WHO PROTECT THAT
LEGACY FOR ALL WHO FOLLOW.
2. MEMORIAL DAY ALSO SIGNALS THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER, A TIME TO
ENJOY LEISURE ACTIVITIES, TO TRAVEL, AND TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY
AND FRIENDS. MANY OF US WILL DRIVE MORE MILES IN HEAVIER TRAFFIC
THAN NORMAL. BOTH FACTORS INCREASE THE RISK OF BEING INVOLVED IN AN
ACCIDENT. YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR ODDS BY AVOIDING PEAK TRAVEL TIMES
AND BY DRIVING DEFENSIVELY.
3. IN FY00, 24 MARINES WHO DIED IN TRAFFIC CRASHES WERE NOT
WEARING SEAT BELTS OR MOTORCYCLE HELMETS. DURING "BUCKLE UP
AMERICA" WEEK, 21-28 MAY 2001, LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY WILL MOBILIZE TO SAVE LIVES BY INCREASING THE USE OF SEAT
BELTS NATIONWIDE. THIS YEAR WILL TARGET ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS IN
LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND TOWNS IN ADDITION TO OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS.
MAKE A DECISION TO BUCKLE UP, EVERY TRIP, EVERY TIME. THE SAME RULE
APPLIES TO MOTORCYCLISTS, FOR WHOM HELMETS, BOOTS, JACKETS AND GLOVES
ARE A MUST EVEN IN WARM WEATHER.
4. WHEN PARTICIPATING IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, EMPLOY THE BUDDY
SYSTEM FOR PROTECTION AND MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT WHEN ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES IN AND AROUND THE WATER. IN
THE OFF DUTY ARENA, WATER RELATED FATALITIES RANK SECOND BEHIND
MOTOR VEHICLE MISHAPS.
5. WARM WEATHER AND ALCOHOL USE CAN CREATE A DEADLY COMBINATION.
THE HAZARDS, RISKS, AND CONSEQUENCES OF IRRESPONSIBLE USE OF
ALCOHOL ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION. UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO RUIN YOUR LIFE AS WELL AS THAT OF YOUR FRIENDS AND
LOVED ONES.
6. ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY WEEKEND. REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES OF THOSE
WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US. RETURN SAFELY - DON'T BECOME A STATISTIC.
7. SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
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