R 091600Z MAR 04
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
ALMAR 015/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//IL//
SUBJ/62ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCES//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, I OFFER OUR WARMEST
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL SEABEES ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR 62ND
ANNIVERSARY.  WE ARE PROUD TO JOIN YOU IN CELEBRATING THE RICH
HERITAGE OF THE FORCE THAT "BUILDS AND FIGHTS."
2.  SINCE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION IN 1942,
SEABEES HAVE CONTINUALLY DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES THROUGH DEDICATED
SERVICE AND STEADFAST COMMITMENT.  THIS PAST YEAR, YOU HAVE AGAIN
PROVEN YOURSELVES AS COMBAT MULTIPLIERS IN CONFLICTS AROUND THE
WORLD.  YOU JOINED FORCES WITH US IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND,
THROUGH YOUR LANDMARK MOBILITY AND CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING EFFORTS,
ENABLED I MEF TO MOVE FARTHER AND FASTER THAN ANY MAGTF IN HISTORY.
AFTER THE CESSATION OF COMBAT OPERATIONS, YOU CONTINUED TO SERVE OUR
COUNTRY WELL AS UNIFORMED AMBASSADORS BY REBUILDING BRIDGES, SCHOOLS,
CLINICS AND HOSPITALS FOR THE PEOPLE OF A FREE IRAQ.  WE ARE TRULY
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SELFLESS SERVICE.  THE MARINE CORPS FAMILY LOOKS
FORWARD TO STRENGTHENING OUR BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP AND CAMARADERIE WITH
YOU IN THE FUTURE.
3.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PROUD
LEGACY, IT IS FITTING TO PAUSE AND REFLECT UPON THE MANY
SACRIFICES OF THOSE WHO HAVE PRECEDED YOU.  MARINES EVERYWHERE SALUTE
YOUR EFFORTS AND WELCOME EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU AS
WE SHOWCASE THE POWER OF THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS TEAM.
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//