RTTUZYUW RUEWMCS0000 3121448-UUUU--RUCRNAV
ZNR UUUUU
R 071448Z NOV 08
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
TO ALNAV
BT
ALNAV 080/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/NOV// 
SUBJ/SECNAV MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY MESSAGE// 
RMKS/1.  ON 10 NOVEMBER 1775, THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS GAVE 
BIRTH TO A UNIQUE CORPS OF WARFIGHTERS THAT WOULD CARRY THE NAME 
MARINES.  WHEN SAMUEL NICHOLAS WENT TO TUN TAVERN, DOWN BY THE 
DOCKYARDS OF PHILADELPHIA, TO FIND THE BRAVEST MEN IN TOWN, LITTLE DID 
HE KNOW WHAT HE HAD SET IN MOTION - THE GREATEST FIGHTING FORCE IN 
HISTORY.    
2.  TODAY, TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE YEARS LATER, THE UNITED STATES 
MARINE CORPS STANDS AS A MILITARY SERVICE THAT EMBODIES THE IDEALS OF 
COURAGE, ESPRIT DE CORPS, AND SACRIFICE.  THE STERLING REPUTATION OF 
MARINES WAS BUILT OVER MANY YEARS - ACROSS THE LIBYAN DESERT, ON THE 
FIELDS OF BELLEAU WOOD, ON THE BLOODY BATTLEFIELDS OF IWO JIMA AND 
OKINAWA, AND ON THE STREETS OF FALLUJA.  TIME AND AGAIN, UNITED STATES 
MARINES HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY WILL PREVAIL, WHATEVER THE ODDS.
3.  YOU CARRY THE HONOR AND THE BURDEN OF LIVING UP TO YOUR 
DISTINGUISHED REPUTATION AS THE FIRST TO THE FIGHT, AND AS THE MOST 
DISCIPLINED, PROFESSIONAL, AND COURAGEOUS OF COMBAT FIGHTERS.  WALK 
PROUDLY IN KNOWING THAT YOU FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GREAT HEROES, 
WITH A LONG TRADITION OF ABSOLUTE DEDICATION TO DUTY.  ON BEHALF OF A 
GRATEFUL NATION, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.  YOU ARE ENGAGED IN A 
NOBLE AND WORTHY ENDEAVOR, AND YOUR SACRIFICES KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE.  
YOU DO US PROUD, AND I AM HONORED TO SERVE AS YOUR SECRETARY.
4.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE DONALD C. WINTER, SECRETARY OF THE 
NAVY.// 
BT 
#0000 
NNNN