R 110647Z MAY 99
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS  //N05000//
ALMAR 014/99
MSGID/GENADMIN//
SUBJ/MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS//
RMKS/1.  THROUGHOUT OUR NATION THIS MEMORIAL DAY, AMERICANS WILL
PAUSE TO REFLECT ON THE PRICE OF FREEDOM -- AN INVESTMENT IN PEACE
MADE THROUGH THE BLOOD AND SACRIFICE OF MARINES, SAILORS, SOLDIERS,
AIRMEN, AND COASTGUARDSMEN.  AS TODAY'S MARINES PREPARE TO BE THE
VANGUARD OF FREEDOM IN THE 21ST CENTURY, THEY REALIZE THEIR MOST
POTENT WEAPON IS A LEGACY ENTRUSTED TO THEM BY PAST GENERATIONS.
BUT IT IS MORE THAN A LEGACY OF BRAVERY ON THE BATTLEFIELD; IT IS A
FOUNDATION OF SERVICE AND TRUST BUILT ON OUR CORE VALUES OF HONOR,
COURAGE AND COMMITMENT.
2.  FROM THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THROUGH TWO WORLD WARS, KOREA,
VIETNAM, THE PERSIAN GULF, AND COUNTLESS CRISES AND CONFLICTS,
MARINES RESPONDED WHENEVER THEIR NATION CALLED.  JOINING WITH THE
GALLANT MEN AND WOMEN OF THE NAVY, ARMY, AIR FORCE AND COAST GUARD,
THEY NOT ONLY DEFENDED FREEDOM AT HOME, BUT RISKED AND OFTEN GAVE
THEIR LIVES FOR THOSE UNABLE TO SECURE THEIR OWN WELL-BEING.  EVEN
NOW, THE WORLD WATCHES ANXIOUSLY AS AMERICA'S FINEST MEN AND WOMEN
SELFLESSLY PLACE THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY TO SAFEGUARD A PEOPLE
WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE NO HOPES OR REFUGE.
3.  FOR THOSE OF US WHO WILL MARK THIS MEMORIAL DAY IN THE COMPANY
OF OUR LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS, LET US REMEMBER THOSE WHO ARE
SERVING ON THE FRONT LINES OF FREEDOM.  LET US RECALL THE BRAVERY
OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED, FROM THE TIME OF OUR NATION'S BIRTH TO
THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW CENTURY.  AND LET US PAY PARTICULAR GRATITUDE
TO THOSE WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE IN WAR. THEIR SACRIFICES ARE
THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR NATION'S FREEDOM, AND FOR THIS WE REMAIN
FOREVER IN THEIR DEBT.  SEMPER FIDELIS, C. C. KRULAK, GENERAL, U.S.
MARINE CORPS.//
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