UNCLASSIFIED//
R 242230Z JAN 08
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL ALMAR(UC)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS
ALMAR 003/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/1ST MARINE DIVISION ANNIVERSARY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. I AM HONORED TO SEND HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS
TO THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION AS YOU
CELEBRATE YOUR 67TH ANNIVERSARY. IN TIMES OF WAR AND PEACE, YOUR
SELFLESS SERVICE AND HEROIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED
IMMEASURABLY TO THE DEFENSE OF OUR FREEDOM.
2. SINCE 1 FEBRUARY 1941, YOUR FIGHTING SPIRIT ACROSS THE DECADES
IN BITTER, COSTLY CONFLICTS SO FAR FROM HOME HAS INSPIRED
GENERATIONS OF YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS AND MARINES. THE COURAGE AND
FORTITUDE OF THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION AT GUADALCANAL, PELELIU, AND
OKINAWA, INCHON AND THE CHOSIN RESERVOIR, HUE AND QUANG TRI, DESERT
SHIELD AND DESERT STORM, IS ALIVE AND PRESENT TODAY IN AFGHANISTAN
AND IRAQ.
3. YOU ARE TRUE PROFESSIONALS WHO CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THE GALLANT
LEGACY OF THE "OLD BREED" OF THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION. AS YOU
CELEBRATE YOUR ANNIVERSARY, PAUSE TO REMEMBER THOSE MEMBERS OF YOUR
PROUD DIVISION WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR COUNTRY AND
CORPS. THEIR DEEDS AND HEROISM ARE FOREVER ENGRAVED ON THE PAGES OF
OUR HISTORY.
4. CONGRATULATIONS AND SEMPER FIDELIS! JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL,
U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//