R 251600Z FEB 05
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL ALMAR(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 009/05
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/63RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCES//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, I EXTEND
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL SEABEES AS YOU MARK YOUR 63RD ANNIVERSARY.
WE ARE PROUD TO JOIN YOU IN CELEBRATING THE RICH HERITAGE OF THE
FORCE THAT "WITH COMPASSION FOR OTHERS, BUILDS AND FIGHTS."
2.  SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCES IN
1942, SEABEES HAVE CONTINUALLY DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES THROUGH
DEDICATED SERVICE AND STEADFAST COMMITMENT.  THIS PAST YEAR, THROUGH
YOUR LANDMARK CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS, YOU PROVIDED CRITICAL FORCE
PROTECTION AND FACILITY ENHANCEMENTS FOR OUR FORCES IN IRAQ, WHILE
SIMULTANEOUSLY DEMONSTRATING THE NO GREATER FRIEND PHILOSOPHY TO THE
IRAQI PEOPLE BY REBUILDING BRIDGES, SCHOOLS, CLINICS AND HOSPITALS.
WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SELFLESS SERVICE AND LOOK FORWARD TO
STRENGTHENING THE BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP AND CAMARADERIE BETWEEN US.
3.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PROUD
LEGACY, IT IS FITTING TO PAUSE AND REFLECT UPON THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
AND SACRIFICES OF THOSE SEABEES WHO HAVE PRECEDED YOU AND THOSE WHO
HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.  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.//