R 211630Z MAY 02  ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS  //N02000//
ALMAR 032/02
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/CMC//
SUBJ/MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE//
RMKS/1.  MEMORIAL DAY IS A TIME TO REFLECT UPON THE SACRIFICES OF
AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE DEFENSE
OF FREEDOM.  SINCE THE BIRTH OF OUR NATION, MANY BRAVE MEN AND
WOMEN HAVE SELFLESSLY SERVED TO ENSURE PEACE AND PROSPERITY
FOR ITS CITIZENS.  MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES HAVE FOUGHT AND
DIED FOR THE PRECIOUS CAUSES OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FROM THE
FRONT LINES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND CIVIL WAR TO THE
FOREIGN BATTLEFIELDS OF WORLD WARS I AND II, KOREA, VIETNAM,
AND SOUTHWEST ASIA.  THESE COURAGEOUS MEN AND WOMEN
DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES AS PATRIOTS IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD
AND THEIR EFFORTS EXEMPLIFY THE NOBLE VALUE OF PLACING "COUNTRY
BEFORE SELF."  WE OWE THEM A DEBT OF HONOR AND GRATITUDE.
2.  THIS YEAR WE ALSO PAUSE TO REMEMBER THE SCORES OF MEN AND
WOMEN WHO PERISHED DURING THE ATTACKS OF 11 SEPTEMBER, AS WELL
AS THOSE WHO HAVE DIED WHILE ANSWERING OUR NATION S CALL IN ITS
BATTLE AGAINST TERRORISM.  THEIR SACRIFICE AND THE HEROIC EFFORTS
OF COUNTLESS SELFLESS PUBLIC SERVANTS STAND AS A BEACON OF HOPE,
GIVING US REASON TO BELIEVE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY PEACE
AND FREEDOM THROUGHOUT OUR GREAT LAND.
3.  TODAY, AS WE COMBAT TERRORIST FORCES ON BOTH DOMESTIC AND
INTERNATIONAL FRONTS, WE ARE ENGAGED IN A WAR UNLIKE ANY THAT WE
HAVE EXPERIENCED.  THE IDEALS OF "SELFLESSNESS AND SACRIFICE"
EMBODIED IN THE EXAMPLE SET BY THOSE WHO SERVED BEFORE US ARE
NECESSARY IN ORDER TO GUARANTEE ULTIMATE VICTORY.  LET US PAUSE
TODAY TO COMMIT OURSELVES TO CONTINUING THEIR NOBLE EFFORTS AS WE
FACE THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD. 
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
BT