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UNCLAS //N02300//
ALNAV 053/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/MAY//
SUBJ/MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND MARINE
CORPS//
RMKS/1.  THIS MEMORIAL DAY, WE REMEMBER OUR FALLEN HEROES AND
RECOGNIZE THE SACRIFICES OF OUR FOREBEARS.  AMERICA ALSO HONORS THE
SERVICE OF THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN WORLD WAR II BY DEDICATING A NEW
NATIONAL MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, DC.
2.  THEY ARE KNOWN TO US AS THE "GREATEST GENERATION." TODAY A NEW
GREAT GENERATION OF AMERICANS IS SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ AND
ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GLOBE.  OUR SERVICE MEMBERS ARE FIGHTING TO
FREE THE WORLD OF GLOBAL TERRORISM, ESTABLISH SECURITY AND
STABILITY, DEFEND OUR WAY OF LIFE AND LIBERATE OPPRESSED PEOPLES WHO
YEARN FOR FREEDOM.
3.  PRESIDENT BUSH HAS SAID, "AS WE ACT TO LIFT THE DARK CLOUD OF
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TERROR FROM OUR NATION AND THE WORLD, WE REAFFIRM OUR DETERMINATION
TO PRESERVE OUR FOREFATHERS' LEGACY OF FREEDOM.  IN DOING SO, WE
HONOR THEIR LEGACY AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THE 21ST CENTURY."
4.  SINCE THE FOUNDING OF OUR GREAT NATION, THOSE WHO HAVE GONE
BEFORE US HAVE EARNED THE BLESSINGS WE ENJOY TODAY.  THROUGH THEIR
SERVICE AND SACRIFICE, OUR SAILORS, MARINES, SOLDIERS, AIRMEN, AND
COASTGUARDSMEN OF GENERATIONS PAST HAVE DEFEATED EVERY THREAT TO OUR
WAY OF LIFE.
5.  FREEDOM IS NOT A BIRTHRIGHT.  IT IS HARD WON AND CAN NEVER BE
TAKEN FOR GRANTED.  I AM HUMBLED TO STAND ALONGSIDE EACH OF OUR
MAGNIFICENT MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM WHO SERVE TODAY.
6.  YOUR FIGHTING SPIRIT AND YOUR CODE OF HONOR, COURAGE AND
COMMITMENT HAS BEEN, IS TODAY, AND ALWAYS WILL BE OUR ENDURING
STRENGTH.
7.  YOUR FAMILIES AND YOUR COUNTRYMEN ARE PROUD OF YOUR SERVICE.
MAY YOU HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY.  GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU,
GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILIES AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
8.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.//
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