ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 072310Z NOV 03 ZYB MIN PSN 325935J27
 
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
 
TO ALNAV
 
UNCLAS //N02300//
ALNAV 084/03
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/NOV/
 
SUBJ/HONORING VETERANS DAY//
 
RMKS/1.  IN 1918, AT THE 11TH HOUR, OF THE 11TH DAY, OF THE 11TH
MONTH, THE GUNS OF WORLD WAR I FELL SILENT.  AFTER YEARS OF BLOODY
STRUGGLE, "THE WAR TO END ALL WARS" HAD AT LAST COME TO A CLOSE.
THIS IS THE GENESIS OF VETERAN'S DAY. THROUGHOUT THE 20TH CENTURY,
MORE WARS, SUFFERING AND SACRIFICE FOLLOWED THIS DEVASTATING
CONFLICT.
 
2. IN 1954, PRESIDENT DWIGHT EISENHOWER ISSUED A PROCLAMATION
CALLING ON THE NATION TO "SOLEMNLY REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES OF ALL
THOSE WHO FOUGHT SO VALIANTLY, ON THE SEAS, IN THE AIR, AND ON
FOREIGN SHORES, TO PRESERVE OUR HERITAGE OF FREEDOM, AND LET US
RECONSECRATE OURSELVES TO THE TASK OF PROMOTING AN ENDURING PEACE SO
THAT THEIR EFFORTS SHALL NOT HAVE BEEN IN VAIN."
 
3.  TODAY THE WORDS OF EISENHOWER RETAIN THEIR DEEP, PROFOUND
MEANING.
 
4.  YOUR SERVICE ABROAD AND AT HOME CALLS FOR MANY SACRIFICES, BUT
WE HAVE FOUGHT HARD TO NOT ONLY PRESERVE OUR FREEDOM AND WAY OF
LIFE, BUT TO BRING FREEDOM TO THE OPPRESSED.  WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND BY WORKING TO REBUILD IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
WE ARE HELPING TO BRING HOPE FOR THE FUTURE AND AN ENDURING PEACE.
 
5.  YOU CAN TAKE PRIDE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL
PAUSE ON THIS DAY TO REMEMBER YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO PEACE.  THEY
WILL REMEMBER HOW YOU DEFEATED BRUTAL TYRANTS IN AFGHANISTAN AND
IRAQ, REMOVING THE ENEMY WITH ONE HAND AND RESTORING HOPE WITH THE
OTHER.  THEY WILL REMEMBER YOUR COUNTLESS ACTS OF COMPASSION AND
SERVICE AROUND THE WORLD FROM BRINGING STABILITY TO LIBERIA, TO
FIGHTING FIRES IN CALIFORNIA AND HELPING YOUR NEIGHBORS IN THE WAKE
OF HURRICANE ISABEL.  THEY WILL REMEMBER THAT YOU STOOD WATCH AT THE
FRONT LINES IN AMERICA'S DEFENSE AND DEFEATED EVERY THREAT.
 
6.  AS WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US, SO TOO WILL YOU BE
REMEMBERED BY GENERATIONS YET UNBORN.  I AM DEEPLY HONORED TO STAND
WITH THOSE WHO SERVE THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM.  OUR NATION IS GRATEFUL
TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.  MAY GOD
BLESS OUR VETERANS, AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.
THE HONORABLE GORDON R. ENGLAND, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY SENDS.//
 
BT
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