ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 092018Z OCT 01 ZYB MIN PSN 334713J21
 
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC//SN//
 
TO ALNAV
 
UNCLAS
ALNAV 103/01
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SN//
 
SUBJ/NAVYS 226TH BIRTHDAY MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY//
 
RMKS/1.  AS WE CELEBRATE THE UNITED STATES NAVY'S 226TH YEAR OF
DEFENDING THIS GREAT REPUBLIC, IT IS FITTING THAT WE TAKE A FEW
MOMENTS TO REFLECT UPON OUR PROUD HERITAGE.  THROUGHOUT HISTORY, OUR
NAVY AND OUR NATION HAVE DEFEATED EVERY ADVERSARY AND EVERY
CHALLENGER WE HAVE FACED.  IN THE EARLIEST DAYS OF OUR REPUBLIC, USS
CONSTITUTION AND HER SISTER SHIPS DEFEATED THE MOST POWERFUL NAVIES
IN THE WORLD.  IN WORLD WAR II, THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR SPURRED
US ON TO SWEEP THE IMPERIAL FLEET FROM THE PACIFIC.  TODAY WE FACE A
NEW FOE IN A NEW KIND OF WAR, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE RESULT
WILL BE THE SAME - VICTORY.
 
2.  THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 WILL ECHO THROUGH
HISTORY.  MY CHARGE TO YOU IS TO NEVER FORGET.  NEVER FORGET THIS
ATTACK ON THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE.  NEVER FORGET THE LIVES OF OUR
SHIPMATES AND COUNTRYMEN LOST.  NEVER FORGET THE SELFLESS ACTS OF
BRAVERY AND GENEROSITY THAT EMERGED FOLLOWING THE ATTACKS.  WITH
RENEWED PURPOSE, WE WILL COME TO REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 11TH AS THE DAY
THAT MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR THESE ENEMIES OF FREEDOM.
 
3.  WHEN I TOOK OFFICE LAST MAY, I OUTLINED FOUR STRATEGIC
PRIORITIES FOR OUR NAVY. TODAY, THESE PRIORITIES - COMBAT
CAPABILITY, PEOPLE, TECHNOLOGY, AND IMPROVED BUSINESS PRACTICES -
DEMAND AN EVEN GREATER SENSE OF URGENCY AS WE WAGE THE FIRST WAR OF
THE 21ST CENTURY.  OVER THE YEARS, OUR NAVY HAS ADAPTED TO CHANGES
IN TECHNOLOGY, TACTICS, AND COMMAND STRUCTURES TO COUNTER NEW
THREATS TO OUR WAY OF LIFE.  THIS IS THE STRENGTH OF OUR NAVY.
 
4.  I KNOW THAT IN SHIPS, SUBMARINES, AND SQUADRONS AROUND THE
WORLD, YOU STAND READY TO ANSWER OUR NATION'S CALL. DURING THE
COURSE OF THIS CHALLENGING YEAR, OUR NATION WILL CONTINUE TO COUNT
ON YOUR HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT. AS OUR NAVY SAILS INTO ITS
226TH YEAR, I ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO REFLECT
ON THE BLESSINGS WE ENJOY THAT WERE EARNED BY EARLIER GENERATIONS.
YOUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL LIKEWISE
HONOR YOUR DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.
 
5. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHIPMATES!  GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU, YOUR FAMILIES
AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
 
6. RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE GORDON R. ENGLAND, SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.//
 
BT