RTTUZYUW RUEWMCS0000 0512204-UUUU--RUCRNAV
ZNR UUUUU
R 202204Z FEB 09
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
TO ALNAV
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UNCLAS
ALNAV 013/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/FEB// 
SUBJ/100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREAT WHITE FLEET// 
RMKS/1.  ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO THIS COMING SUNDAY, THE GREAT WHITE 
FLEET ROUNDED CAPE HENRY, ENTERED THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND COMPLETED ITS 
ROUND THE WORLD VOYAGE THAT BEGAN FOURTEEN MONTHS BEFORE.  THIS 
UNPRECEDENTED INITIATIVE IN DIPLOMATIC OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT FORMED 
THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR NATIONS AND NAVYS RELATIONSHIP WITH MARITIME 
ALLIES FOR THE NEXT CENTURY.
2.  FROM DECEMBER 1907 UNTIL FEBRUARY 1909, THE FLEETS MAGNIFICENT 
WHITE BATTLESHIPS SAILED THE WORLD, SHOWING THE AMERICAN FLAG FROM PORT 
OF SPAIN TO THE PHILIPPINES.  IT WAS A GLOBAL DEMONSTRATION THAT 
AMERICA HAD BECOME A WORLD POWER WITH A FIRST-CLASS, BLUE WATER NAVY 
AND MARKED THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA OF SECURITY COOPERATION WITH KEY 
PARTNERS SUCH AS AUSTRALIA.  THE FLEETS HISTORIC ACCOMPLISHMENT 
HIGHLIGHTS THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT OUR SAILORS AND MARINES CAN MAKE EVERY 
DAY, WHEREVER THEY MAY BE.
3.  DURING THIS VOYAGE, THE FLEET CALLED AT SUEZ, EGYPT, ON JANUARY 3 
1909, AND LEARNED OF A DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE AND TIDAL WAVE THAT 
STRUCK MESSINA, ITALY, FIVE DAYS EARLIER.  AS AMERICANS HAVE ALWAYS 
DONE, OUR SAILORS AND MARINES RAPIDLY RESPONDED WITH GENEROSITY AND 
COMPASSION.  RACING TO THE ISLAND OF SICILY, THEY DELIVERED CRITICAL 
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS.  THESE ACTIONS NOURISHED A LASTING 
FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF ITALY AND THOSE OF THE UNITED STATES.
4.  OVER THE PAST FOURTEEN MONTHS, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF THE NAVY HAVE ENGAGED WITH OUR INTERNATIONAL COUNTERPARTS, NEIGHBORS, 
AND FRIENDS TO MARK THIS CENTENNIAL WITH SAILORS AND MARINES AT HOME 
AND ABROAD. U.S. NAVY SHIPS VISITED PORTS IN MEXICO, THE REPUBLIC OF 
GEORGIA, MALTA, FRANCE, ITALY, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, AND EGYPT, CONTINUING 
OUR HISTORIC TRADITION OF INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION.  
WE HAVE ALSO SEEN CELEBRATIONS IN THE U.S. - NORFOLK, SEATTLE, HONOLULU, 
AND NEW YORK CITY - THAT VIVIDLY REMIND US OF THE PROFESSIONALISM, 
SACRIFICE, AND PATRIOTISM OF OUR NAVAL FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES.  
THEIR COMMITMENT CONTINUES TO BE A SOURCE OF GREAT NATIONAL PRIDE.
5.  WHEN PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT TRAVELED TO NORFOLK, VIRIGINIA, 
TO GREET THE RETURNING FLEET, HE TOLD THE SAILORS AND MARINES “QUOTE – 
OTHER NATIONS MAY DO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, BUT THEYLL HAVE TO FOLLOW YOU” 
UNQUOTE. FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS, AMERICAN SAILORS HAVE LED THE 
WAY FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW - ALL OF YOU WHO SERVE ON, ABOVE, AND UNDER 
THE SEA.  IT IS YOU SAILORS AND MARINES, WHO ENGAGE WITH OUR ALLIES AND 
WHO COME TO THE RESCUE OF THOSE IN NEED FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO TO THE 
GULF OF ADEN, AND SERVE AS OUR NATIONS GREATEST AMBASSADORS.
6.  THE NAVAL HEROES OF OUR PAST LOOK OVER OUR SHOULDERS TODAY AS WE 
STAND THE WATCH BY THE EXAMPLE THEY HAVE SET.  I AM CONFIDENT THAT WITH 
YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE, WE CAN FOLLOW IN THE WAKE OF THE GREAT WHITE 
FLEET TO REMAIN THE WORLDS PREEMINENT MARITIME POWER FOR THE NEXT 
HUNDRED YEARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.  MAY GOD BLESS YOU, YOUR 
FAMILIES, AND OUR NATION.
7.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE DONALD C. WINTER, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.

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