R 152200Z MAY 03
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
ALMAR 030/03
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/CMC//
SUBJ/CMC'S ARMED FORCES DAY MESSAGE//
RMKS/1.  ARMED FORCES DAY INITIALLY SYMBOLIZED THE UNIFICATION
OF OUR MILITARY FORCES AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, AND IT HONORED THE
MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL SERVICES.  OVER TIME, THIS DAY EVOLVED INTO
AN OCCASION THAT PAYS TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO SERVED HONORABLY
BEFORE US WHILE INCREASING AWARENESS OF THE MILITARY'S ROLE IN
OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD.
2.  THIS YEAR'S ARMED FORCES DAY FINDS BOTH ACTIVE AND RESERVE
MEMBERS OF THE MARINE CORPS, THE NAVY, THE ARMY, AND THE AIR FORCE
CONFRONTING TERRORISM AT HOME AND ABROAD.  IN SO DOING, THIS JOINT
FORCE HAS STRENGTHENED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE
CIVILIAN AND MILITARY COMMUNITIES BY PRESERVING THE HIGH LEVEL OF
NATIONAL READINESS NECESSARY TO SAFEGUARD OUR NATION AND THE WORLD
IN A GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM.
3.  AS A FORCE OF FREEDOM, OUR ARMED FORCES GIVE CONFIDENCE AND
HOPE TO AMERICA AND ITS ALLIES THAT WE WILL NO LONGER LIVE AT THE
MERCY OF TERRORISTS.  OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND OPERATION ENDURING
FREEDOM ATTEST TO THE DETERMINATION AND SKILL OF AMERICA'S MEN AND
WOMEN IN FIGHTING THOSE FORCES THAT HAZARD WORLD PEACE AND FREEDOM.
4.  ON THIS ARMED FORCES DAY, I JOIN AMERICANS EVERYWHERE TO OFFER
OUR GRATITUDE FOR ALL THAT YOU DO ON BEHALF OF OUR GREAT NATION.
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS.  M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//