FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
ALMAR 035/03
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE//
RMKS/1.  THE FREEDOM AND SECURITY THAT HAVE COME TO BE ACCEPTED AS
THE COMMON BIRTHRIGHTS OF OUR GREAT NATION OCCASIONALLY DEMAND GREAT
SACRIFICE.  FOR OVER 227 YEARS UNITED STATES MARINES HAVE VALIANTLY
AND SELFLESSLY MADE THESE SACRIFICES SO THAT THE CITIZENS OF OUR
NATION COULD REMAIN FREE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES AND TO RAISE THEIR
CHILDREN IN THE LIFE AFFIRMING CONDITIONS OF LIBERTY, OPPORTUNITY,
AND SELF-DETERMINATION.
2.  MEMORIAL DAY IS THE DAY OUR NATION SETS ASIDE TO RECOGNIZE THOSE
WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY.
EACH YEAR, ON THE LAST MONDAY OF MAY, FAR TOO MANY AMERICANS EMBARK
ON PAINFUL PILGRIMAGES TO THE FINAL RESTING PLACES OF LOVED ONES
WHOSE LIVES WERE LOST SECURING THE PROFOUND BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY
THAT WE ALL ENJOY.
3.  CONSIDER THE ENORMITY OF SACRIFICE THE LOSS OF EVEN A SINGLE
MARINE REPRESENTS.  MULTIPLY THIS BY THE LEGION OF MARINES WHO HAVE
GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY, AND THE ACT OF
HONORING THEM ADEQUATELY SEEMS OVERWHELMING.  IN FACT, THERE IS NO
SINGLE SPEECH, TRIBUTE, OR GESTURE THAT CAN BE RENDERED EQUAL TO
THEIR SACRIFICE.  TO APPROPRIATELY HONOR OUR FALLEN COMRADES, WE
MUST NOT ONLY TAKE PAUSE IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE, WE MUST ALSO
RE-AFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO THE CAUSE IN WHICH THEY GAVE THEIR FINAL
FULL MEASURE. WE MUST COMMIT OURSELVES TO DOING OUR DUTY AND LIVING
OUR LIVES IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THEIR SACRIFICE.
4.  THIS YEAR, DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, MANY OF OUR FELLOW
MARINES MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM AND
SECURITY, AND WHILE NO WORDS CAN ADEQUATELY DIMINISH THE PAIN OF
THEIR LOSS, THERE IS SOLACE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEIR SACRIFICE
HAS REMOVED A GREAT THREAT TO WORLD PEACE AND THAT THEY HAVE
LIBERATED THE ONCE STIFLED DESTINIES OF MILLIONS OF HUMAN BEINGS.
THEY HAVE DONE THEIR DUTY IN THE FINEST TRADITION OF OUR FABLED
CORPS AND NOW WE ARE LEFT TO DO OURS. 
5. TAKE A MOMENT THIS MEMORIAL DAY TO REFLECT UPON THE GREAT
SACRIFICES OF OUR FALLEN COMRADES.  WHERE POSSIBLE, PARTICIPATE IN
THE LOCAL EVENTS THE CITIZENS OF OUR GREAT NATION HAVE CONCEIVED IN
HONOR OF OUR FALLEN.  MOST OF ALL, RE-AFFIRM YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE
CAUSE OF FREEDOM AND TO THE OATH OF SERVICE YOU HAVE SWORN.  OUR
DUTY WELL DONE IS THE MOST FITTING TRIBUTE OF ALL.
6.  SEMPER FIDELIS, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//