R 052130Z NOV 04
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 062/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/VETERANS DAY MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS//
POC/SGT K. PTAK/ADMIN CHIEF/CMC STAFF GROUP/-/TEL:(703) 614-2326
/EMAIL:PTAKKK@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THE FREEDOMS THAT ALL AMERICANS ENJOY WERE
BOUGHT WITH THE BLOOD, SWEAT AND SACRIFICE OF VETERANS - THOSE
FORTY-EIGHT MILLION MEN AND WOMEN WHO, THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, LEFT
THEIR HOMES AND LOVED ONES TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY.  TO COMMEMORATE
THEIR SERVICE, OUR NATION PAUSES IN REMEMBRANCE EACH YEAR ON
NOVEMBER 11TH.  THE REMARKABLE LEGACY OF THESE SELFLESS PATRIOTS IS
NOT LIMITED TO THE LIBERTIES THAT WE ENJOY HERE AT HOME; OUR
VETERANS HAVE HELPED BRING FREEDOM TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN NUMEROUS
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.
2.  TODAY MARINES, STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THE OTHER
ARMED SERVICES, ARE AGAIN ON THE FRONT LINES OF AMERICA'S DEFENSE,
BOTH HERE AT HOME AND STATIONED AROUND THE GLOBE.  EVERY VETERAN
KNOWS WELL THE SACRIFICES AND COMMITMENT THAT IS REQUIRED TO PROTECT
THE FREEDOMS WE HOLD DEAR - THEY ARE EXPERIENCED DAILY BY BOTH THOSE
IN UNIFORM AND THEIR FAMILIES.  THOUGH WE CAN NEVER ADEQUATELY REPAY
THIS DEBT, WE HONOR THIS SACRIFICE, AND ESPECIALLY COMMEMORATE IT ON
THIS DAY.  MARINES TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN KNOWING THAT THEY ARE SERVING
AS A PART OF THIS EXTRAORDINARY TRADITION; I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR
YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR BELOVED CORPS, AND TO THIS GREAT
NATION.
3.  ON THIS SPECIAL DAY, AS WE KEEP THE FAITH WITH ALL VETERANS -
AND REMAINING FAITHFUL IS MORE THAN JUST A MOTTO FOR MARINES - BOTH
ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND AT HERE AT HOME IT IS OUR SACRED DUTY TO TAKE
CARE OF EACH OTHER.  BE VIGILANT, FOR OUR ENEMIES SEEK TO DO US HARM
- BE SAFE, WE MUST NOT DO THEIR JOB FOR THEM.  SEMPER FIDELIS, M. W.
HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//