ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 071258Z OCT 02 ZYB MIN PSN 257481J27
 
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC//SN//
 
TO ALNAV
 
UNCLAS
ALNAV 080/02
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SN//
 
SUBJ/NAVY BIRTHDAY MESSAGE TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY//
 
RMKS/1. AS WE HONOR THE BIRTH OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, WE ARE A
NATION AT WAR.  OUR NATION'S STRONG AND DECISIVE RESPONSE TO THE
TERRORIST ACTS OF SEPTEMBER 11TH HAS DEMONSTRATED AMERICA'S
PATRIOTISM AND RESOLVE TO THE ENTIRE WORLD.  NOWHERE HAS THAT DUTY
TO COUNTRY BEEN MORE EVIDENT THAN IN OUR NAVY AND MARINE CORPS.
 
2. THIS MONTH, WE ALSO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY OF THOSE FIRST STRIKES
FOR FREEDOM IN THE WAR ON TERROR.  LAST OCTOBER 7TH, BRAVE MEN AND
WOMEN LAUNCHED AIRCRAFT OFF THE DECKS OF OUR CARRIERS AND FIRED
CRUISE MISSILES FROM OUR SHIPS AND SUBMARINES AS OUR NAVY AND MARINE
CORPS TEAM BEGAN TO "TERRORIZE THE TERRORISTS."  TODAY, ALTHOUGH THE
WAR ON TERROR IS FAR FROM OVER, YOU, YOUR SHIPMATES AND OUR ALLIES
HAVE DEFEATED THE TALIBAN, DISRUPTED THE TERRORIST NETWORKS AND
FREED THE PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN.
 
3. PRESIDENT BUSH, IN HIS WORDS TO SAILORS AND MARINES FOLLOWING
THOSE STRIKES DECLARED, "YOU WERE AMONG THE FIRST TO FIGHT IN THE
FIRST WAR OF THE 21ST CENTURY.  YOU WERE READY.  YOU PERFORMED WITH
SKILL AND HONOR.  AND YOU HAVE MADE YOUR NATION PROUD."  PRESIDENT
BUSH HAD IT EXACTLY RIGHT - AND ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMANDER IN CHIEF,
I SALUTE YOU.
 
4. IT IS AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE WITH YOU.  AROUND THE
WORLD, SAILORS ARE ANSWERING OUR NATION'S CALL THROUGH THEIR SERVICE
AND SACRIFICE.  YOUR MAGNIFICENT PERFORMANCE DURING OPERATION
ENDURING FREEDOM HONORS THE LEGACY OF NAVAL HEROES WHO FOR 227 YEARS
HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AND ENSURE THE
SURVIVAL OF LIBERTY.
 
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