228TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
Date Signed: 6/15/2007 | ALMARS Number: 065/03
ALMARS : 065/03
R 291415Z OCT 03
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
ALMAR 065/03
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/228TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS//
POC/SGT J. WOODS/CSG/DSN 224-2326//COMM (703)614-2326//
RMKS/1.  THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATE THE 228TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE FOUNDING OF OUR CORPS.  AS ALWAYS, IT IS AN OCCASION
FOR REMEMBRANCE, PROUD TRADITIONS, AND JOYFUL
CAMARADERIE.  THE EVENTS OF THE PAST YEAR HAVE CALLED
FOR GREAT SACRIFICES FROM MANY MARINES AND THEIR
FAMILIES. WHILE THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM WILL CONTINUE
TO DEMAND THE BEST FROM EACH OF US, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
WE JOIN WITH OUR FELLOW MARINES, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS TO
CELEBRATE OUR CORPS' SPECIAL CULTURE AND UNIQUE WARRIOR
ETHOS.
2.  THIS PAST YEAR, MARINES DEMONSTRATED ONCE AGAIN THAT
THEY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ENTITY ON ANY BATTLEFIELD.
LETHAL WEAPONS AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES PROVIDE US UNIQUE
ADVANTAGES, BUT EDUCATED WARRIORS ULTIMATELY DETERMINE
VICTORY IN COMBAT   NOT MACHINES.  DURING OPERATIONS IRAQI
FREEDOM AND ENDURING FREEDOM, OUR SMALL UNIT LEADERS'
SKILLS, ADAPTABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY PRODUCED VICTORY ON
UNCERTAIN AND AT TIMES CHAOTIC BATTLEFIELDS. WE PROVED
ONCE AGAIN THE POWER OF INTEGRATED GROUND-AIR-LOGISTICS
TEAMS AS WELL AS THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERY MARINE BEING
FIRST AND FOREMOST A RIFLEMAN.  
3.  OUR SPECIAL SPIRIT IS EVIDENT NOT ONLY IN BATTLE; IT
IS EVIDENT IN THE FAITHFUL PERFORMANCE OF DEMANDING DUTIES
BY COUNTLESS MARINES AT HOME AND ABROAD.  EVERY MARINE
MAKES A VITAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE ABILITY OF OUR CORPS TO
PROJECT AND SUSTAIN CREDIBLE COMBAT POWER. MOREOVER, THE
WILLINGNESS AND READINESS OF ALL MARINES TO ACCEPT AND
ACCOMPLISH ANY MISSION IS CENTRAL TO OUR SUCCESS AND A
HALLMARK OF OUR WARRIOR ETHOS.
4.  THE CULTURE THAT DEFINES THE MARINE CORPS IS NURTURED
BY OUR TRADITIONS.  IN CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE, WE
STRENGTHEN THE LINKAGES TO A GLORIOUS HISTORY AND RECOMMIT
OURSELVES TO UPHOLDING THE STANDARDS AND VALUES GIVEN TO
US BY PAST GENERATIONS.
5.  IN COMMEMORATING OUR 228TH ANNIVERSARY, REMAIN TRUE TO
THE SPIRIT OF THE OCCASION. REFLECT ON OUR FALLEN WITH
DEEP RESPECT, OBSERVE OUR TRADITIONS WITH JUSTIFIABLE
PRIDE, TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER, AND OF COURSE, CELEBRATE
THOSE SPECIAL BONDS THAT EXIST AMONG UNITED STATES MARINES.
6.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES, SEMPER FIDELIS, AND KEEP
ATTACKING!  M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//