R 120025Z MAY 06
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL ALMAR(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 019/06
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/CMC//
SUBJ/ARMED FORCES DAY MESSAGE//
POC/SGT K. PTAK/ADMIN CHIEF/CMC STAFF GROUP/-/TEL:(703) 614-2326
/EMAIL:PTAKKK@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. SINCE 1950, OUR NATION HAS RECOGNIZED THE THIRD
SATURDAY IN MAY AS ARMED FORCES DAY. ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO
CELEBRATE THE UNIFICATION OF THE SEPARATE SERVICES UNDER ONE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, TODAY IT SERVES TO STRENGTHEN THE BOND
BETWEEN THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY SERVICES AND THE AMERICAN
CITIZENRY WE SERVE-AN INFORMED AMERICA SUPPORTS THOSE WHO WEAR THE
CLOTH OF OUR NATION.
2. WE REMAIN A CORPS AT WAR, AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO DATE ARE
MEASURELESS. OUR NATION INVESTS JUDICIOUSLY IN ITS ARMED FORCES,
WHICH IN TURN ENSURES WE PRESERVE OUR WAY OF LIFE AND GIVES HOPE TO
ALL WHO SEEK PEACE, FREEDOM, AND JUSTICE. WHILE ARMED FORCES DAY
WILL BE MARKED WITH PARADES AND COMMEMORATIONS, A GOOD MANY OF OUR
FELLOW MARINES WILL SPEND THIS DAY IN HARM'S WAY. BEYOND THOSE WHO
STAND READY AROUND THE GLOBE, EVERY MARINE, WHEREVER THEY MAY BE,
WHATEVER THEIR TASK, CONTRIBUTES DIRECTLY AND IMPORTANTLY TO THE
DEFENSE OF OUR NATION. 
3. AS WE CELEBRATE THIS 56TH ARMED FORCES DAY, KNOW THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES FOR YOUR EXCEPTIONAL
SERVICE DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. YOUR SACRIFICES ARE VITAL TO
OUR NATION'S SECURITY AND IN KEEPING WITH THE VALOROUS HERITAGE OF
OUR CORPS. SEMPER FIDELIS, AND KEEP ATTACKING! M.W. HAGEE, GENERAL,
U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//