ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 011800Z JUL 03 ZYB MIN PSN 007471J19
 
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC//SN//
 
TO ALNAV
 
UNCLAS
ALNAV 055/03
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/SN/-/JUL//
 
SUBJ/INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND
/MARINE CORPS//
 
RMKS/1.  OVER TWO CENTURIES AGO, A YOUNG NATION LOOSED THE CHAINS OF
AN OPPRESSIVE TYRANT AND SET ABOUT BUILDING A GOVERNMENT BASED UPON
"LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS."  THOUSANDS OF
AMERICANS TOOK UP THE CHALLENGE AND RISKED THEIR LIVES IN THE
PURSUIT OF THEIR FREEDOM.
 
2.  A DOZEN YEARS PASSED BETWEEN THEIR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT.  DURING THAT TIME,
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS EXPERIENCED BOTH SUCCESSES AND SETBACKS.  BUT
THEY NEVER GAVE UP HOPE OR THEIR DEDICATION TO THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM.
 
3.  IN THE WORDS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, "THE GROUND OF LIBERTY IS TO
BE GAINED BY INCHES AND WE MUST BE CONTENTED TO SECURE WHAT WE CAN
GET FROM TIME TO TIME AND ETERNALLY PRESS FORWARD FOR WHAT IS YET TO
GET.  IT TAKES TIME TO PERSUADE MEN TO DO EVEN WHAT IS FOR THEIR OWN
GOOD."
 
4.  HIS WORDS ECHO IN OUR ACTIONS TODAY.  AMERICANS ARE RISKING
THEIR LIVES IN IRAQ AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IN THE CONTINUED
PURSUIT OF FREEDOM.  THEIR TASK WILL BE DIFFICULT, AND WE WILL
EXPERIENCE SETBACKS ALONG WITH OUR SUCCESSES.  BUT INCH BY INCH,
BLOCK BY BLOCK, TOWN BY TOWN, WE WILL HELP SECURE THE FREEDOM OF THE
IRAQI PEOPLE AND ALL WHO SUFFER UNDER THE BURDEN OF TERRORISM.
 
5.  OUR NATION IS EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOUR SERVICE.  YOUR DAILY
ACTIONS INSPIRE US AND AFFIRM OUR CONTINUING DEFENSE OF IDEALS SET
FORTH 227 YEARS AGO, TODAY.
 
6.  MY WARMEST WISHES FOR YOUR HAPPINESS AND WELL BEING ON THE
GREATEST OF AMERICAN HOLIDAYS.  GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU, YOUR FAMILIES
AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
 
7.  THE HONORABLE HANSFORD T. JOHNSON, ACTING SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
SENDS.//
 
BT
NNNN