ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 241836Z MAY 02 ZYB MIN ZYW PSN 933336J27
 
FM  SECNAV WASHINGTON DC//SN//
 
TO ALNAV
 
UNCLAS
ALNAV 047/02
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV//
 
SUBJ/MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND MARINE
CORPS//
 
RMKS/1.  THIS MEMORIAL DAY AS WE HONOR FALLEN HEROES FROM CONFLICTS
BOTH PAST AND PRESENT, OUR GREAT NATION IS ONCE AGAIN AT WAR.   AS
THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND MARINE CORPS CONTINUE TO DEFEND THIS
GREAT REPUBLIC, IT IS FITTING THAT WE TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO REFLECT
ON THE SACRIFICE OF THOSE HEROES WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US.
 
2.  THROUGHOUT HISTORY, OUR NAVY AND MARINE CORPS HAVE RISEN TO
CHALLENGE EVERY THREAT TO OUR NATION.  IN THE EARLIEST DAYS OF OUR
REPUBLIC THESE TWO FLEDGLING SERVICES BANDED TOGETHER TO DEFEAT THE
MOST POWERFUL NAVIES IN THE WORLD.  IN WORLD WAR II, THE ATTACK ON
PEARL HARBOR SPURRED THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS TEAM TO DRIVE THE
IMPERIAL FLEET FROM THE PACIFIC.  THROUGH THEIR SERVICE AND
SACRIFICE, SAILORS AND MARINES OF GENERATIONS PAST ENABLED OUR
NATION AND ITS ALLIES TO DEFEAT FASCISM AND COMMUNISM AROUND THE
WORLD.  TODAY, WE FACE A NEW THREAT - GLOBAL TERRORISM - IN A NEW
KIND OF WAR, BUT THE RESULT WILL BE THE SAME.
 
3.  THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, REVERBERATED
THROUGHOUT OUR NATION.  IN THEIR AFTERMATH, HOWEVER, OUR NATION
RESPONDED WITH RENEWED STRENGTH AND DECISIVENESS.  PROUDLY, THE NAVY
AND MARINE CORPS HAVE HONORED OUR LOST SHIPMATES AND COUNTRYMEN BY
PERFORMING MAGNIFICENTLY DURING OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.
 
4.  WHEN I TOOK OFFICE LAST MAY, I OUTLINED FOUR STRATEGIC
PRIORITIES FOR OUR NAVY AND MARINE CORPS.  TWELVE MONTHS LATER,
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
LAST YEAR, THROUGH YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS
TEAM HAS EXCELLED IN MANY AREAS INCLUDING RETENTION AND COMBAT
PERFORMANCE AND IMPROVED IN OTHERS SUCH AS HOUSING AND PAY.  DESPITE
THIS PROGRESS, YOUR LEADERSHIP RECOGNIZES THAT MUCH WORK REMAINS AS
WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND EMPHASIZE THESE FOUR VITAL PRIORITIES.
 
5.  TRUE VICTORY IN THIS WAR WILL REQUIRE PATIENCE, RESOLVE AND
DETERMINATION.  FORTUNATELY, I KNOW THAT IN SHIPS, SUBMARINES AND
SQUADRONS AROUND THE WORLD, SAILORS AND MARINES WILL ANSWER OUR
NATION'S CALL FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO ASSURE VICTORY.  AS WE HAVE
FOR 227 YEARS, OUR NATION WILL CONTINUE TO COUNT ON YOUR HONOR,
COURAGE AND COMMITMENT.
 
6.  AS YOU CONTINUE TO SERVE, I ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO TAKE A FEW
MOMENTS TO REFLECT ON THE BLESSINGS WE ENJOY THAT WERE EARNED BY
EARLIER GENERATIONS. IN TIME, YOUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN AND
FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL LIKEWISE HONOR YOUR GENERATION'S SACRIFICES
AND COMMITMENT TO THE DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.
 
7.  MY MOST SINCERE WISHES FOR A SAFE AND MEANINGFUL MEMORIAL DAY.
GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU, YOUR FAMILIES AND THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
 
8.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE GORDON R. ENGLAND, SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.//
 
BT