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SUBJ: UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY MESSAGE - 10 NOVEMBER 2004
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 057/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY MESSAGE - 10 NOVEMBER 2004//
UNCLAS
GENTEXT/REMARKS/

1. TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE YEARS AGO, THE
SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ESTABLISHED A CORPS OF MARINES TO FIGHT
FOR A DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S INDEPENDENCE. SINCE THEN COUNTLESS
MARINES HAVE RAISED THEIR HAND AND SWORN TO DEFEND OUR NATION'S
FREEDOMS AND PRESERVE ITS LIBERTIES. THIS YEAR'S ANNIVERSARY AGAIN
FINDS MARINES ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE FOR THE SAME NOBLE
PURPOSES. THE BRAVERY, HEROISM, AND SELFLESSNESS OF ALL MARINES -
WHEREVER THEY ARE SERVING - HAVE ADDED SIGNIFICANTLY TO OUR RICH
LEGACY AND MEASURED UP TO THE HIGH STANDARDS THAT HAVE COME TO
EPITOMIZE ALL WHO WEAR THE EAGLE, GLOBE, AND ANCHOR.

2. THE CURRENT BATTLEFIELDS OF THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR ARE LINKED
TO THE STORIED CAMPAIGNS OF OUR PAST BY AN UNBROKEN TRADITION OF
PROUD AND LOYAL SERVICE. AT NEW PROVIDENCE, CHAPULTEPEC, BELLEAU
WOOD, TARAWA, IWO JIMA, THE CHOSIN RESERVOIR, CON THIEN, KUWAIT, AND
NOW IN PLACES LIKE FALLUJAH, MARINES HAVE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED
A DEDICATION TO DUTY, A COMMITMENT TO WARFIGHTING EXCELLENCE, AND A
DEVOTION TO EACH OTHER THAT HAS INSTILLED A FIERCE DETERMINATION TO
OVERCOME SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE CHALLENGES. OUR WARRIOR ETHOS IS AND
WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE CORPS' HALLMARK.

3. THE FORTITUDE AND SACRIFICES OF MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE
BEEN VITAL IN PROTECTING OUR NATION FROM THOSE WHO WOULD DO US HARM.
WHETHER PREPARING AND SUSTAINING OUR AGILE FORCE OR ENGAGED IN
BATTLE, THE ESPRIT DE CORPS, TIRELESS ENERGY, CALM COURAGE, AND
INSPIRED LEADERSHIP OF MARINES CONTINUE TO MAKE A MONUMENTAL
DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD. YOUR UNSELFISH DEDICATION AND SIGNIFICANT
ACCOMPLISHMENTS - DEMONSTRATED REPEATEDLY OVER THIS PAST YEAR IN
NUMEROUS PLACES SUCH AS THE ANBAR PROVINCE OF IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, THE
HORN OF AFRICA, HAITI, AND IN THE CRUCIAL JOB HERE AT HOME
SUPPORTING OUR DEPLOYED FORCES - ARE DEEPLY RESPECTED AND VALUED BY
YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS.

4. MARINES, AS WE CELEBRATE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILIES THE FOUNDING
OF OUR BELOVED CORPS, YOU SHOULD TAKE PRIDE IN OUR LONG HISTORY OF
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THIS GREAT NATION AND ITS CITIZENS. I ASK
YOU TO REMEMBER ESPECIALLY THE SACRIFICES OF OUR FALLEN AND WOUNDED
COMRADES. FINALLY, REDEDICATE YOURSELVES TO TAKING CARE OF ONE
ANOTHER AND ENSURING WE REMAIN THE FINEST WARFIGHTING ORGANIZATION
IN THE WORLD.

5. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES, SEMPER FIDELIS, AND KEEP ATTACKING! M.W.
HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
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