R 051730Z NOV 04
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 061/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/MESSAGE TO THE MARINE CORPS FROM THE HONORABLE GORDON R. ENGLAND
/SECRETARY OF THE NAVY ON THE OCCASION OF THE 229TH BIRTHDAY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THE FOL MSG IS SENT ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY
OF THE NAVY. IT IS BEING RELEASE AS AN ALMAR TO ENSURE WIDEST
DISSEMINATION THROUGHOUT OUR CORPS.
2. SEMPER FIDELIS, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.
QUOTE
FR SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
1. FOR 229 YEARS, THOUSANDS OF AMERICA'S BEST MEN AND WOMEN
HAVE PROUDLY EARNED THE TITLE, UNITED STATES MARINE. FROM THE HALLS
OF MONTEZUMA AND THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI, TO THE SANDS OF IWO JIMA, TO
THE JUNGLES OF VIETNAM, THE MOUNTAINS OF AFGHANISTAN, THE DESERTS OF
DJIBOUTI AND IRAQ, AND AROUND THE WORLD, THE COURAGE, HEROISM, VALOR
AND COMPASSION OF THE MARINE CORPS IS LEGENDARY.
2. THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR MARINES, IN WAR AND PEACE, HAS EARNED
THEM A REPUTATION AS THE WORST OF ENEMIES OR THE BEST OF FRIENDS.
AS GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR SAID IN KOREA, "I HAVE JUST RETURNED
FROM THE FRONT, AND THERE IS NOT A FINER FIGHTING ORGANIZATION IN
THE WORLD."
3. AS WE MARK THE BIRTHDAY OF THE CORPS, WE ARE REMINDED THAT THIS
IS A TIME OF REFLECTION ON PAST GLORIES AND A RECOMMITMENT TO FUTURE
CHALLENGES. WE HONOR AND THANK ALL MARINES WHOSE SERVICE AND
SACRIFICE FOR OVER TWO CENTURIES HAVE PRESERVED THE GREAT GIFTS OF
FREEDOM AND LIBERTY FOR OUR NATION AND FOR OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES.
4. THIS IS THE BIRTHDAY GIFT THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US BY THE
MARINES WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US AND THE GIFT THAT WE PASS ON TO
FUTURE MARINES AND TO FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS.
5. TODAY, WE ARE WINNING A LONG STRUGGLE AGAINST YET ANOTHER
BARBAROUS FOE, GLOBAL TERRORISM, A PROFOUND THREAT TO PEACE,
STABILITY, AND OUR WAY OF LIFE. YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES ARE MAKING
MANY SACRIFICES TO DEFEAT THIS THREAT TO AMERICA, AND IT IS DEEPLY
APPRECIATED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. YOUR
FELLOW CITIZENS AND THE WORLD HOLD THE MARINE CORPS IN HIGH ESTEEM,
AND YOUR SERVICE IS HIGHLY VALUED.
6. FOR ME, IT IS A UNIQUE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE WITH THE
WARRIORS WHO WEAR THE EAGLE, GLOBE AND ANCHOR.
7. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO SERVE IN OUR CORPS FOR YOUR DEDICATION
AND DEVOTION. GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES FOR YOUR
SERVICE TO AMERICA.
8. HAPPY 229TH BIRTHDAY TO THE GREATEST FIGHTING FORCE IN THE
WORLD, THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.
9. THE HONORABLE GORDON R. ENGLAND, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY SENDS.
END QUOTE.//