TO  AL ALNAV(uc)
CC  CNO WASHINGTON DC(uc)



PASS TO OFFICE CODES:
R 092317Z NOV 04
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
TO ALNAV
UNCLAS //N02300//
ALNAV 089/04 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/NOV//
SUBJ/HONORING VETERANS DAY//
RMKS/1.  AMERICA IS NOT JUST A PLACE; RATHER, IT IS AN IDEAL, A
PROFOUND IDEAL THAT ALL PEOPLE SHOULD LIVE IN FREEDOM AND LIBERTY.
THESE ARE NOT INNATE RIGHTS.  FREEDOM AND LIBERTY HAVE TO BE EARNED,
PROTECTED AND DEFENDED BY EVERY GENERATION.  AS PRESIDENT REAGAN
SAID, "FREEDOM IS NEVER MORE THAN ONE GENERATION AWAY FROM
EXTINCTION."
2.  FOR 229 YEARS, AMERICANS OF ALL RACES, COLORS, CREEDS AND SOCIAL
POSITIONS HAVE STEPPED FORWARD IN TIME OF NEED TO PROTECT THIS
IDEAL. VETERANS DAY IS THE TIME FOR OUR NATION TO REFLECT ON THE
SACRIFICES OF THESE GENERATIONS OF VETERANS AND A TIME TO SAY THANKS
FOR THEIR SERVICE.
3.  TODAY, WE FIND OURSELVES ONCE AGAIN PROTECTING THE AMERICAN
IDEAL OF FREEDOM AND LIBERTY FOR ALL PEOPLE.  THE MAGNIFICENT MEN
AND WOMEN WHO WEAR THE CLOTH OF OUR NATION, TOMORROW'S VETERANS,
HAVE TAKEN UP THE MANTLE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP AMERICA SAFE FOR
US AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
4.  WE ARE IN AN AGE OF GREAT PROMISE, BUT ALSO AN AGE OF GREAT
DANGER - AN AGE WHEN LIBERTY CAN BE EXPANDED BUT ALSO A TIME OF
DEADLY GLOBAL TERROR.  IT IS A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR OUR NATION, A
MOMENT THAT WILL DEMAND MUCH OF OUR CITIZENS AND ESPECIALLY OF OUR
MILITARY.
5.  WITH GREAT CLARITY OF VISION AND UNWAVERING RESOLVE, PRESIDENT
BUSH HAS EXPRESSED OUR RESPONSIBILITY THIS WAY, "THE ADVANCE OF
FREEDOM IS THE CALLING OF OUR TIME, AND THE CALLING OF OUR COUNTRY.
WE BELIEVE THAT LIBERTY IS THE DESIGN OF NATURE.  WE BELIEVE THAT
LIBERTY IS THE DIRECTION OF HISTORY AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE FREEDOM
WE PRIZE IS NOT FOR US ALONE, IT IS THE RIGHT AND CAPACITY OF ALL
MANKIND."   AS PRESIDENT BUSH LATER SAID, "WE WILL FINISH THE WORK
OF DEMOCRACY THAT WE HAVE BEGUN."
6.  TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS WHO HAVE GIVEN US THIS GREAT GIFT OF
FREEDOM AND LIBERTY AND TO ALL OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO TODAY WEAR
THE CLOTH OF OUR NATION AND ARE DEFENDING THESE FREEDOMS AND
LIBERTIES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION, DEVOTION, SACRIFICE AND
COMMITMENT TO OUR NATION'S IDEAL.
7.  GOD BLESS ALL OF OUR VETERANS, THOSE SERVING TODAY AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
8.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.//

BT


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