R 140800Z NOV 97 ZYB
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
UNCLAS //N05060//
ALMAR 384/97
MSGID/GENADMIN//
SUBJ/222ND CHAPLAIN CORPS ANNIVERSARY//
RMKS/1. AS THE U.S. NAVY CHAPLAIN CORPS CELEBRATES ITS 222ND
ANNIVERSARY, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS
TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE CALL TO MINISTRY IN UNIFORM HAS BEEN
AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR HERITAGE.
2. FOR MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES, THE CHAPLAIN CORPS HAS BEEN A
PILLAR OF STRENGTH AND INSPIRATION FOR ALL MARINES. YOUR VAST
CONTRIBUTIONS IN NURTURING THE FAITH OF MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES
HAVE PROVIDED A MORAL COMPASS DURING TIMES OF FAIR WINDS AND STORMY
SEAS. FROM THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI TO THE SHORES OF BOSNIA, AND FROM
BASES AND POSTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, THE PRESENCE OF CHAPLAINS HAS
BEEN A CLEAR REMINDER OF GOD'S LOVE, CARE AND CONCERN FOR ALL PEOPLE.
YOU HAVE GIVEN US THE COURAGE TO STAND AND FACE THE ENEMY; YOUR WORDS
OFFERING HOPE WHEN THE BATTLE SEEMED OVERWHELMING, AND YOUR PRAYERS
COMFORTING US WHEN WE'VE HAD TO SAY GOODBYE TO THOSE WHO MADE THE
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR NATION. YOUR RICH AND VALOR-FILLED
HISTORY HAS GARNERED OUR UTMOST RESPECT; YOUR EVERYDAY COMMITMENT TO
MARINES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD HAS SECURED OUR SPECIAL TRUST AND
FRIENDSHIP. THE SELFLESS TRAITS THAT EMBODY THOSE IN THE MINISTRY
MAKE YOU AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR FIGHTING FORCE AND WILL CONTINUE TO
MAKE YOU A VALUED MEMBER OF OUR CORPS.
3. ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES, PLEASE EXCEPT MY
DEEPEST APPRECIATION FOR YOUR SELFLESS SERVICE. MAY GOD BLESS YOU
AND YOUR CORPS AS YOU CONTINUE TO SERVE HIM AND THOSE IN NEED.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND SEMPER FIDELIS. SINCERELY, C. C. KRULAK,
GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
BT