R 261339Z JAN 06
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL ALMAR(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 003/06
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/1ST MARINE DIVISION ANNIVERSARY MESSAGE//
POC/SGT K. PTAK/ADMIN CHIEF/CMC STAFF GROUP/-/TEL:(703) 614-2326
/EMAIL:PTAKKK@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE MARINE CORPS, IT IS AN
HONOR TO CONGRATULATE THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE 1ST MARINE
DIVISION ON THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR ACTIVATION.  UNITS OF THE
DIVISION FIRST SAW ACTION NEARLY A CENTURY AGO, EARNING THE HIGHEST
HONORS FOR VALOR, BATTLEFIELD PROWESS, AND THE ESPRIT OF ITS
DEDICATED MARINES AND SAILORS THROUGH THE ENSUING DECADES. 
2.  FROM GUADALCANAL TO THE CHOSIN RESERVOIR, THE "OLD BREED" HAS
AMASSED AN UNPARALLELED LEGACY BORN OF COURAGE AND DETERMINATION.
THE DIVISION'S DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN OPERATIONS ENDURING AND
IRAQI FREEDOM HAVE ADDED NEW CHAPTERS TO THE DIVISION'S LORE,
FURTHER DEMONSTRATING THAT WHETHER IN ACTION AGAINST THE NATION'S
FOES OR CONDUCTING STABILITY OPERATIONS, THE 1ST DIVISION CREATES
STABILITY IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD.
3.  AS THE DIVISION PREPARES TO RETURN TO IRAQ, WE MARK THIS
ANNIVERSARY BY CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE AND PAYING TRIBUTE TO THOSE
WHO HAVE PRECEDED US.  KNOW THAT MARINES AROUND THE GLOBE HONOR YOUR
SERVICE AND SACRIFICE AND WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS.  SEMPER
FIDELIS AND KEEP ATTACKING!  M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE
CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//