RAAUZYUW RUENAAA9739 1792007-UUUU--RUCRNAV
ZNR UUUUU ZUI RUEWMCF0334 1792000
R 281957Z JUN 07 PSN 960633K27
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
TO ALNAV
ZEN/ALNAV @ AL ALNAV(UC)
INFO ZEN/CNO CNO
BT
UNCLAS
SUBJ: SECNAV INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE TO THE FLEET FM SECNAV WASHINGTON 
DC TO ALNAV
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UNCLAS
ALNAV 056/07
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/JUN// 
SUBJ/SECNAV INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE TO THE FLEET// 
RMKS/1.  231 YEARS AGO, CONGRESS GATHERED IN PHILADELPHIA TO DECLARE 
OUR INDEPENDENCE FROM GREAT BRITAIN.  JOHN HANCOCK AND 55 OTHER 
PATRIOTS SIGNED THIS DECLARATION, PLEDGING THEIR LIVES, THEIR FORTUNES, 
AND THEIR SACRED HONOR TO THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM.
2.  TO THIS DAY, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IS FREQUENTLY QUOTED 
BECAUSE ITS PRINCIPLES AND VALUES DEFINE US AS A NATION. ITS AUTHOR, 
THOMAS JEFFERSON, ASSERTED THAT CERTAIN TRUTHS ARE SELF-EVIDENT.
AMONG THESE TRUTHS IS THE IDEA THAT ALL CITIZENS HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS, 
SUCH AS LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.  THESE RIGHTS ARE 
UNALIENABLE--NO GOVERNMENT CAN TAKE THEM AWAY.
3.  TODAY WE LOOK BACK AT THESE GIFTS OF FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE AND 
WE ADMIRE OUR FOUNDERS FOR THEIR WISDOM AND FORESIGHT.  AMERICA STILL 
STANDS FOR THE IDEALS THEY SET FORTH IN OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.  
THOSE IDEALS AND THE EXPERIMENT IN SELF-GOVERNMENT THAT BEGAN IN 
PHILADELPHIA WITH SUCH HOPE AND PROMISE HAVE, IN THE INTERVENING YEARS, 
SERVED AS AN INSPIRATION TO PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.
4.  THIS FOURTH OF JULY, LET US ALL TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THE 
MEANING OF OUR INDEPENDENCE, AND ON WHAT IS REQUIRED TO PRESERVE IT.
I SALUTE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE AND SERVICE, AND 
I EXTEND MY SINCERE THANKS TO YOUR FAMILIES WHOSE STRONG SUPPORT IS SO 
CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS. YOUR DEDICATION ENSURES OUR FREEDOM AND KEEPS 
US SAFE, AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR NOBLE EFFORTS.  
YOU ARE WORTHY HEIRS TO THE PATRIOTS WHO FOUGHT FOR OUR INDEPENDENCE, 
AND I AM HONORED TO SERVE YOU AS YOUR SECRETARY.
5.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE DONALD C. WINTER, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.


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