R 140930Z DEC 98
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS  //N05060//
ALMAR 366/98
MSGID/GENADMIN//
SUBJ/HOLIDAY GREETINGS//
RMKS/1.  AS THE NEW YEAR APPROACHES AND WE SHARE THE SPIRIT OF THE
VARIOUS HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS, I AM PLEASED TO EXTEND MY BEST WISHES
TO ALL MARINES, SAILORS, "CIVILIAN MARINES," AND YOUR FAMILIES FOR A
SAFE AND JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON.  I CANNOT OVERSTATE HOW VERY PROUD I
AM OF EACH OF YOU AND YOUR MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGH THE COURSE
OF THIS PAST YEAR.  YOUR SELFLESS DEDICATION TO OUR COUNTRY AND OUR
CORPS TRULY REPRESENTS ALL THAT IS BEST IN THE AMERICAN CHARACTER.
2.  DURING THESE HOLIDAYS, APPROXIMATELY 23,700 OF YOU WILL BE
FORWARD DEPLOYED AROUND THE GLOBE -- AWAY FROM YOUR HOMES AND LOVED
ONES.  YOU ARE SERVING IN A LITTANY OF ROLES THAT ARE VITAL TO
MAINTAINING OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS, AND THE THOUGHTS, PRAYERS, AND
GRATITUDE OF YOUR COUNTRYMEN ARE WITH YOU.  YOU STAND AS THE
NATION'S BULWARK AGAINST AGGRESSION, AND YOUR VERY PRESENCE HELPS
BRING "PEACE ON EARTH, AND GOODWILL TO ALL."  WHETHER YOU ARE SERVING
AT HOME OR ABROAD THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, YOU CAN BE CERTAIN THAT A
GRATEFUL NATION IS AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THANKS TO
YOUR SELFLESS COMMITMENT.  YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
3.  THE HOLIDAYS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EACH OF US TO REFLECT ON
THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN AFFORDED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
PLEASE KNOW THAT I COUNT EACH OF YOU AS CHIEF AMONG MY OWN PERSONAL
BLESSINGS.  YOU HAVE MY SINCEREST APPRECIATION FOR YOUR DEDICATED
SERVICE, AND MY WARMEST WISHES FOR A JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON.  MAY GOD
CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU AND OUR GREAT CORPS DURING THE NEW YEAR.
SEMPER FIDELIS, C. C. KRULAK, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
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