R 261120Z NOV 02
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(n)
TO ML ALMAR(n)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS
ALMAR 065/02
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/227TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVY CHAPLAIN CORPS//
RMKS/1.  NOVEMBER 28, 2002 MARKS THE 227TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED
STATES NAVY CHAPLAIN CORPS.  ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE
CORPS, I WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU A HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND EXPRESS OUR
GRATITUDE FOR THE SUPERB SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP THAT CHAPLAINS HAVE
PROVIDED THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY.  IN BOTH PEACETIME AND WAR, NAVY
CHAPLAINS HAVE BEEN THERE TO PROVIDE COMFORT, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND
SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE.  YOUR IMMEASURABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE SPIRITUAL
AND EMOTIONAL WELL BEING OF MARINES, SAILORS AND THEIR FAMILILES
SINCE THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 AND OUR NATION'S SUBSEQUENT
WAR ON TERRORISM HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.  YOUR COMPASSIONATE
TREATMENT OF AND DEDICATION TO OUR MARINES AND SAILORS, AND THE
POSITIVE STATE OF OUR CORP'S FAMILY READINESS, IS INDICATIVE OF YOUR
EXCEPTIONAL MINISTRY.  THE CHAPLAIN'S ROLE AS KEY ADVISOR TO MY
COMMANDERS IS CRUCIAL.  KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE RESPECT AND
APPRECIATION OF ALL MARINES, SAILORS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR ALL YOU
CONTINUE TO DO FOR US.  OUR SINCERE WISHES FOR A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
2.  SEMPER FIDELIS AND GOD BLESS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE
CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//