UNCLASSIFIED//
ROUTINE
R 072030Z OCT 09
BT
UNCLAS
PASS TO OFFICE CODES:
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
TO ALNAV
UNCLAS //N05750/
ALNAV 066/09

MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/OCT//
SUBJ/SECNAV BIRTHDAY MESSAGE TO THE FLEET//

RMKS/1.  TWO HUNDRED THIRTY FOUR YEARS AGO, ON 13 OCTOBER 1775, THE 
CONTINENTAL CONGRESS APPROVED A RESOLUTION COMMISSIONING TWO SHIPS, 
EACH WITH A CREW OF EIGHTY AND AN ARMAMENT OF TEN GUNS.  THE SHIPS WERE 
CHARGED WITH INTERCEPTING MUNITIONS AND SUPPLIES AT SEA BOUND FOR 
BRITISH TROOPS OCCUPYING AMERICA.  FROM THIS MODEST BEGINNING, THE NAVY 
HAS GROWN TO TODAYS MODERN FLEET OF 285 SHIPS AND 646,000 ACTIVE, 
RESERVE, AND CIVILIAN MEMBERS.  THROUGH ALL 234 YEARS, THE NAVY HAS 
FOUGHT OUR WARS AND CARRIED THE FIGHT TO THE ENEMY OVERSEAS.

2.  FROM THE RAID ON NASSAU IN 1776 TO THE GULF OF ADEN AND THE 
MOUNTAINS OF AFGHANISTAN TODAY, THE NAVY HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR NATIONS 
AWAY TEAM, DEFENDING HER INTERESTS ABROAD.  YOU AND YOUR PREDECESSORS 
HAVE SERVED SELFLESSLY, WITHOUT REGARD TO PERSONAL SACRIFICE - ENDURING 
MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS AWAY FROM HOME AND LOVED ONES.

3.  OUR HEROES EPITOMIZE THAT LEGACY OF SERVICE.  JONES, PREBLE, 
MACDONOUGH, FARRAGUT, NIMITZ, HALSEY, LASSEN, AND SO MANY MORE UNNAMED 
- NOW JOINED BY NEW HEROES LIKE MICHAEL MURPHY AND MICHAEL MONSOOR, WHO 
PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF OUR NATION.  TODAY WE HONOR 
THEIR SERVICE, AS WE HONOR OUR ENDURING LEGACY.

4.  THE MISSION OF THE NAVY CONTINUES, ADAPTING TO THE SHIFTING 
REQUIREMENTS OF A COMPLEX WORLD.  SAILORS ARE TRAINING AND DEPLOYED 
WORLDWIDE; IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN FIGHTING THE WARS, IN THE CARIBBEAN 
CONDUCTING MEDICAL MISSIONS WITH PARTNER NATIONS AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL 
ORGANIZATIONS, IN THE PACIFIC DELIVERING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, IN 
AFRICA BUILDING SECURITY CAPACITY WITH NEW PARTNERS, IN THE GULF OF 
ADEN COMBATING PIRACY, AND IN SOUTH AMERICA INTERDICTING THE FLOW OF 
NARCOTICS.

5.  YOU, OUR SAILORS, CONTINUE TO BE THE BEDROCK OF OUR SUCCESS.  YOU 
ARE THE COPS ON THE BEAT; ON THE WATER, IN THE AIR, UNDER THE SEA, 
ASHORE AND OVERSEAS.  YOUR SELFLESS DEVOTION TO SERVICE HONORS OUR 
PROUD NAVY TRADITION AND IS AN EXAMPLE TO THE REST OF THE NATION.  
GODSPEED TO YOU, YOUR FAMILIES, OUR NAVY, AND OUR NATION.

6.  RELEASED BY RAY MABUS, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.//
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