ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 061557Z OCT 00 ZYB MIN PSN 408695J32
 
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC//SN//
 
TO ALNAV
 
UNCLAS
ALNAV 081/00
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV//
 
SUBJ/NAVY 225TH BIRTHDAY//
 
RMKS/1.  OUR NAVY HAS -- FOR 225 YEARS -- ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR
AMERICA, AND IN FACT, IS OLDER THAN THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC ITSELF.
OVER THESE YEARS, THE MOST TUMULTUOUS IN HUMAN HISTORY, MORE THAN
170 NATIONS HAVE EMERGED OR DISINTEGRATED.
  THE FOUNDING FATHERS REALIZED AT THE EARLIEST STAGES OF THEIR
GREAT WORK THAT CREATING AND PRESERVING A NEW NATION WOULD REQUIRE
THE CAPABILITIES UNIQUE TO NAVAL FORCE, AND THEY SAW FIT TO PLACE
INTO FEDERAL SERVICE THE FIRST AMERICAN SAILORS AND SHIPS.  SINCE
THEN, WE HAVE NEVER FAILED TO LIVE UP TO OUR AWESOME
RESPONSIBILITIES.  IN FACT, OVER THIS PERIOD WE HAVE INCREASED OUR
POWER, INFLUENCE AND RELEVANCE TO THE POINT WHERE WHAT WAS ONCE A
SMALL FORCE IS NOW UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED AS THE WORLD'S
GREATEST NAVY.
  WHILE THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF OUR NAVY HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY
THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, THE DEMAND FOR OUR SERVICES HAS NOT WANED.
THROUGHOUT THIS EVOLUTION, THE SECRET TO OUR SUCCESS HAS BEEN A
WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE WHILE ADHERING TO OUR CORE IDENTITY AND
VALUES.  THIS PHILOSOPHY HAS GUIDED US THROUGH THE RELIABLE
PERFORMANCE OF OUR DUTIES DURING TIMES OF PEACE AND WAR, AND WILL BE
THE KEY TO OUR CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE YEARS AHEAD.  BIRTHDAYS ARE
A TIME FOR JOY AND CELEBRATION.  A 225TH ANNIVERSARY IS ESPECIALLY
TO BE SAVORED.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAVY
 
2.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE RICHARD DANZIG, SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY//
 
BT