R 301130Z OCT 02
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(n)
TO ML ALMAR(n)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS
ALMAR 059/02
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/CMC//
SUBJ/227TH MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY MESSAGE - 10 NOVEMBER 2002//
RMKS/1. WE ALL KNOW THAT A POWERFUL COMBINATION OF TEAMWORK AND
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT FORMS THE STRENGTH OF OUR CORPS.  WE ARE
MARINES, FIRST AND FOREMOST.  THROUGH INNOVATION, TRUST, AND MUTUAL
RESPECT, WE HAVE EVOLVED INTO AN ADAPTIVE AND FLEXIBLE FIGHTING
FORCE IDEALLY SUITED FOR 21ST CENTURY CHALLENGES.  THOUGH THE
CHARACTER OF WAR CONTINUALLY CHANGES, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE
NATURE OF WAR IS TIMELESS: THAT THE ULTIMATE ARBITER OF BATTLE IS
THE HUMAN WILL.  WE RECOGNIZE THIS, AND WE EMBRACE THE VALUES THAT
STRENGTHEN OUR WILL AND DEFINE OUR CHARACTER.  FOR TWO HUNDRED AN
TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS, MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE DEDICATED
THEMSELVES TO THE CAUSE OF THE DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.  OUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS ADORN THE MASTHEAD OF THE BATTLE COLOR OF THE
MARINE CORPS FOR ALL TO ADMIRE, AND THEY REFLECT THE IMPORTANCE
OF THE LEGACY WE INHERIT AND WILLINGLY ACCEPT.
2.  THROUGH SHARED EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS IN BATTLE, WE DISTINGUISH
OURSELVES BY SELFLESS SERVICE - IN A SENSE, WE ARE A FRATERNITY OF
SACRIFICE.  AS STEWARDS OF OUR RICH HERITAGE, WE CONTINUALLY REFLECT
UPON THE GENERATIONS OF MARINES WHO, IN THEIR TIME, FAITHFULLY
ANSWERED OUR COUNTRY'S CALL.  IN THEIR EXAMPLE WE WILL FIND THE
STRENGTH AND INSPIRATION NECESSARY TO MEET THE COMING CHALLENGES.
WE CELEBRATE THIS CONNECTION WITH OUR HISTORY, YET WE REMAIN FOCUSED
ON THE CHALLENGES OF OUR FUTURE.  WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT DUAL
RESPONSIBILITY; TO REMAIN READY FOR TODAY, WHILE TRANSFORMING OUR
CAPABILITIES TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW.
3.  WE FIND PROFOUNDLY GRATIFYING, OUR LIFE-LONG PRIDE OF
ASSOCIATION WITH FELLOW MARINES - ACTIVE, RESERVE, VETERAN, AND
CIVILIAN - AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE CONTRIBUTE DAILY TO SECURING
OUR NATION'S FREEDOM.
4.  I ENCOURAGE ALL MARINES TO CELEBRATE THE CAMARADERIE,
ENRICHMENT, AND FULFILLMENT OF SERVICE WITH MEN AND WOMEN
SUBORDINATED TO A GREATER CAUSE: PREPARING FOR AN EXCITING FUTURE
AND EXTENDING THE LEGACY OF OUR GREAT CORPS.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY,
MARINES!
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//