2001 U.S. MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY MESSAGE
Date Signed: 6/15/2007 | ALMARS Number: 054/01
ALMARS : 054/01
RAAUZYUW RUEACMC     3031500-UUUU--RUEASUU.
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R 301500Z OCT 01  ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
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UNCLAS  //N01500//
ALMAR 054/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/2001 U.S. MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY MESSAGE//
POC/SGT WOODS/ADMIN CHIEF/CSG/-/TEL:(703) 614-2326/EMAIL:
WOODSJP@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
RMKS/1.  AS WE COMMEMORATE THE 226TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING
OF OUR CORPS, MARINES EVERYWHERE CAN TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR
CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR GREAT NATION.  WE ARE A CORPS BORN OF AN
ACT OF CONGRESS, CONSECRATED IN SACRIFICE, STEEPED IN TRADITION,
AND TESTED IN BATTLE.  OUR EARNED LEGACY IS FILLED WITH THE NAMES
OF MANY GREAT MARINES: LEJEUNE, VANDERGRIFT, PULLER...BUTLER,
BESTWICK, DALY -- WHO FILL THE ANNALS OF OUR LINEAGE WITH THEIR
INSPIRED ACTS OF VISION AND GALLANTRY.
2.  HEROIC ACTIONS ON THE BATTLEFIELD ARE A HALLMARK OF OUR LEGACY.
EQUALLY COMPELLING ARE THE COUNTLESS HEROIC DEEDS OF MANY
OTHER MARINES WHO EXEMPLIFY THE VIRTUE OF PLACING THE NEEDS OF
OTHERS ABOVE THEIR OWN.  WHETHER IT BE A MARINE SAVING AN OKINAWAN
CHILD FROM DROWNING, OR PULLING PEOPLE FROM A BURNING WRECK, OR A
FAMILY EXTENDING ITSELF TO PROVIDE A SAFE, NURTURING HOME FOR
DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN, OUR LIVES ARE INDEED FULL OF HEROISM.  TODAY
WE CELEBRATE THESE DEEDS, NOT AS EXPLOITS, BUT AS CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THE GREATER GOOD -- CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE MARINES TAKE CARE OF NOT
JUST THEIR OWN, BUT REACH OUT TO CARE FOR OTHERS.
3.  A LONE MARINE STANDING VIGIL ON A DARK NIGHT IN KOSOVO;  A MARINE
RESERVIST WHO AS A FIREFIGHTER OR POLICE OFFICER FIRST RESPONDS TO
AN EMERGENCY IN HIS COMMUNITY;  A CIVILIAN MARINE WHO WORKING
ALONGSIDE HIS COUNTERPARTS IN UNIFORM SHARES THE PERILS AND
REALITIES OF A TERRORIST ATTACK;  AND A COMMITTED SPOUSE WHO FINDS
TIME TO SERVE AS AN ADVOCATE FOR FAMILY PROGRAMS IN ADDITION TO
MAKING A HOME AND SUPPORTING HER FAMILY -- THESE ARE AMONG THE
HEROES OF ALL GENERATIONS.  WE ARE INDEBTED TO THEM FOR THEIR
EXAMPLE OF STRENGTH AND THEIR PRESENCE OF CHARACTER.  THEY EMBRACE
OUR CORE VALUES AND EMBODY THEM TO THE FULLEST.  THEY INSPIRE US TO
DO THE SAME.  WE MUST RISE TO THE LEVEL OF THEIR EXAMPLE AS WE
CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF OUR CORPS AND ITS RICH HERITAGE.  LET US
ALWAYS BE FAITHFUL, AS OUR MOTTO URGES, TO OUR GOD, OUR COUNTRY,
OUR CORPS AND TO OUR FAMILIES, BUT LET US ALSO RESOLVE TO BE ALWAYS
FAITHFUL TO THOSE MARINES WHO HAVE BESTOWED UPON US OUR PROUD LEGACY
OF SACRIFICE, COURAGE, AND SUCCESS.
4.  TO ALL MARINES, PAST AND PRESENT, WHO UPHOLD THE FINEST
TRADITIONS OF OUR EAGLE, GLOBE, AND ANCHOR, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
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