RTTUZYUW RUEWMCS0000 1791507-UUUU--RUCRNAV
ZNR UUUUU
R 271507Z JUN 08
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
TO ALNAV
BT
UNCLAS
ALNAV 050/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/JUN// 
SUBJ/SECNAV INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE TO THE FLEET// 
RMKS/1.  232 YEARS AGO IN PHILADELPHIA, 56 PATRIOTS SIGNED A 
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE - A DOCUMENT SPELLING OUT THEIR GRIEVANCES 
AGAINST KING GEORGE III AND EXPLAINING WHY THEY FELT IMPELLED TO 
SEPARATE FROM GREAT BRITAIN.
2.  THIS REMARKABLE DOCUMENT IS A CIVICS LESSON ALL ITS OWN-EVEN 
DECLARING WHY GOVERNMENTS EXIST IN THE FIRST PLACE:  THAT TO SECURE 
THESE RIGHTS, GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED AMONG MEN, DERIVING THEIR JUST 
POWERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED; THAT WHENEVER GOVERNMENT 
BECOMES DESTRUCTIVE OF THESE ENDS, IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO 
ALTER OR TO ABOLISH IT, AND TO INSTITUTE NEW GOVERNMENT, LAYING ITS 
FOUNDATIONS ON SUCH PRINCIPLES, AND ORGANIZING ITS POWERS IN SUCH FORM, 
AS TO THEM SHALL SEEM MOST LIKELY TO EFFECT THEIR SAFETY AND HAPPINESS.
3.  GOVERNMENTS EXIST TO SECURE OUR RIGHTS; THE PEOPLE RESERVE THE 
RIGHT TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN LEADERS; THE PEOPLE ARE SOVEREIGN; CONSENT OF 
THE GOVERNED IS A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE - THESE ARE THE FOUNDING IDEAS 
THAT SET OUR NATION ON A COURSE THAT HAS LED TO THE GREATEST SUCCESS 
STORY THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.
4.  OUR FOUNDING FATHERS BELIEVED THAT SOME THINGS WERE WORTH FIGHTING 
FOR.  232 YEARS LATER, WE STILL BELIEVE THAT OUR RIGHTS AND OUR 
LIBERTIES MUST BE DEFENDED.  OVER THE COURSE OF THOSE 232 YEARS, THIS 
NATION HAS FOUND, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THAT HER CITIZENS WERE WILLING 
TO STEP FORWARD AND ANSWER THE CALL OF DUTY TO DEFEND THE BLESSINGS OF 
LIBERTY AS SET FORTH IN OUR FOUNDING DOCUMENT.  THIS FOURTH OF JULY, 
LET US 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 EXTEND MY SINCERE THANKS TO YOUR 
FAMILIES AS WELL, WHOSE STRONG SUPPORT IS CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS.  
YOUR DEDICATION TO DUTY MAKES OUR FREEDOM POSSIBLE, AND THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR NOBLE EFFORTS TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE, 
PARTICULARLY NOW DURING THIS TIME OF PERIL.  YOU ARE WORTHY HEIRS TO 
THE PATRIOTS WHO FOUGHT FOR OUR INDEPENDENCE IN 1776, 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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