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ALNAV 062/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/JUL//
SUBJ/INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND MARINE
/CORPS//
RMKS/1.  THIS YEAR, AS WE CELEBRATE OUR INDEPENDENCE, WE ARE A
NATION AT WAR, FIGHTING AN INSIDIOUS ENEMY TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF
LIBERTY AND TO ENSURE SECURITY AT HOME.
2.  TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO, THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE ESTABLISHED A NEW NATION. SINCE THEN, THE U.S. NAVY AND
MARINE CORPS HAVE DEFENDED OUR GREAT REPUBLIC AND EMBODIED ITS
PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM AND LIBERTY.
3.  PRESIDENT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT, ONCE AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY, TOLD THE NATION ON INDEPENDENCE DAY 1942, WHEN AMERICA WAS AT
WAR ON SEVERAL FRONTS: "NEVER SINCE IT WAS FIRST CREATED IN
PHILADELPHIA, HAS THIS ANNIVERSARY COME IN TIMES SO DANGEROUS TO
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EVERYTHING FOR WHICH IT STANDS. WE CELEBRATE IT THIS YEAR, NOT IN
THE FIREWORKS OF MAKE-BELIEVE BUT IN THE DEATH-DEALING REALITY OF
TANKS AND PLANES AND GUNS AND SHIPS.... THE TOUGH, GRIM MEN WHO
FIGHT FOR FREEDOM IN THIS DARK HOUR TAKE HEART IN ITS MESSAGE - THE
ASSURANCE OF THE RIGHT TO LIBERTY UNDER GOD - FOR ALL PEOPLES AND
RACES AND GROUPS AND NATIONS, EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD."
4.  FDR'S WORDS ECHO TODAY, AS WE FIGHT GLOBAL TERRORISM ON FOREIGN
BATTLEFIELDS AND AT HOME.
5.  AS PRESIDENT BUSH SAID, "AS WE ACT TO LIFT THE DARK CLOUD OF
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."
6.  AROUND THE WORLD, SAILORS AND MARINES ARE ANSWERING OUR NATION'S
CALL THROUGH THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. NOWHERE IS DUTY TO COUNTRY
MORE EVIDENT THAN IN OUR NAVAL SERVICES. IT IS AN HONOR AND
PRIVILEGE TO SERVE WITH ALL WHO WEAR THE CLOTH OF THE NATION. YOUR
FOREFATHERS, FAMILIES AND COUNTRYMEN ARE PROUD OF YOU AND THE VITAL
WORK YOU DO FOR AMERICA.
7.  MY MOST SINCERE WISHES FOR A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE FOURTH OF JULY.
GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU, YOUR FAMILIES, AND THE UNITED STATES OF
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AMERICA.
8.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.//
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