R 041432Z APR 13
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 185/13
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/COMMCICOM(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/EARTH DAY MESSAGE 2013//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. EARTH DAY IS RECOGNIZED EVERY YEAR ON 22 APRIL.  THE MARINE CORPS EARTH DAY THEME FOR 2013 IS "GLOBAL REACH, LOCAL ACTION."
2. AS OUR NATION'S "911" EXPEDITIONARY FIGHTING FORCE, WE RECOGNIZE THE DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACTS THAT OUR MARINE CORPS MISSION HAS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE LIVE, TRAIN AND OPERATE THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE.  TO UPHOLD OUR GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITIES, DEFEND OUR INTERESTS, AND MAINTAIN OUR READINESS, WE MUST BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ENTRUSTED TO US.  BY TAKING PROPER MEASURES TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE THESE RESOURCES, WE ENSURE OUR ABILITY TO WORK, TRAIN, AND OPERATE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.  MANY OF THESE PROTECTIVE MEASURES CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON OUR BASES, IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WITH OUR NEIGHBORS.
3. EARTH DAY PRESENTS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO APPRECIATE OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES, AND TAKE LOCAL ACTION TO SUPPORT AND HIGHLIGHT OUR GLOBAL REACH.  EVEN WITH CURRENT FISCAL CONSTRAINTS, MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS, UNITS AND INDIVIDUALS CAN PARTICIPATE IN MYRIAD ACTIVITIES, MOST OF WHICH ARE VERY LOW OR NO COST.  BY PICKING UP TRASH IN THE COMMUNITY, RUNNING IN AN EARTH DAY RACE, VOLUNTEERING IN LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS, CONSERVING ENERGY, OR PARTICIPATING IN OTHER WAYS, MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN RAISE AWARENESS OF SOUND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND PROTECTION.  I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO USE EARTH DAY TO REFLECT ON OUR GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITIES, WHICH INCLUDES A STANDING OBLIGATION TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AS WE PROTECT OUR NATION, "IN THE AIR, ON LAND, AND SEA."
4. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MAJGEN J. A. KESSLER, COMMANDER, MCICOM.//