R 161827Z APR 14
UNCLASSIFIED/
ALMAR 015/14
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/ARMED FORCES DAY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  SINCE 1950, OUR NATION HAS SET ASIDE THE THIRD SATURDAY IN MAY TO HONOR THOSE AMERICANS WHO PROUDLY SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES.
2.  IN 1953, PRESIDENT EISENHOWER ASSERTED, "IT IS FITTING AND PROPER THAT WE DEVOTE ONE DAY EACH YEAR TO PAYING SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHOSE CONSTANCY AND COURAGE CONSTITUTE ONE OF THE BULWARKS GUARDING THE FREEDOM OF THIS NATION AND THE PEACE OF THE FREE WORLD."  ARMED FORCES DAY REMAINS AS RELEVANT TODAY AS IT WAS MORE THAN 60 YEARS AGO.
3.  OUR NATION REMAINS THE BASTION OF FREEDOM, LIBERTY AND EQUALITY BECAUSE OUR UNIFORMED MEN AND WOMEN ARE WILLING TO MAKE DIFFICULT SACRIFICES TO PRESERVE THESE VALUES.  I JOIN ALL AMERICANS IN HONORING YOUR BRAVERY AND DEDICATION TO OUR COUNTRY.  AS WE CELEBRATE THE 64TH OBSERVANCE OF ARMED FORCES DAY, WE PAUSE TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION AND THOSE LEFT PERMANENTLY CHANGED BY THEIR SERVICE.
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//