UNCLASSIFIED//

ROUTINE

R 081339Z DEC 09

FM OU=SECNAV WASHINGTON DC(UC),L=WASHINGTON,L=DISTRICT OF 
COLUMBIA,OU=ORGANIZATIONS(UC),OU=NAVY,OU=DOD,O=U.S. GOVERNMENT,C=US

TO CN=AL ALNAV(UC),OU=ADDRESS LISTS(UC),OU=NAVY,OU=DOD,O=U.S. GOVERNMENT,C=US 
OU=ALNAV,OU=AIG 6-AZ,OU=AUTODIN PLAS,OU=DOD,O=U.S. GOVERNMENT,C=US

BT
UNCLAS
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
TO ALNAV

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ALNAV 075/09

MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/DEC//

SUBJ/SECNAV HOLIDAY MESSAGE TO THE FLEET//

RMKS/1.  THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS NORMALLY THOUGHT OF AS A TIME FOR CELEBRATION 
WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, BUT FOR MANY IN THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS ? IT IS 
ANOTHER WEEK OR MONTH ON DUTY, PROTECTING THE COUNTRY FAR AWAY FROM HOME.

2.  THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS ARE AN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, WE ARE THE COUNTRYS 
AWAY TEAM.  AS A RESULT, MANY OF YOU ARE SERVING FAR AWAY FROM YOUR LOVED ONES 
IN THE CAUSE OF THE COUNTRY.  IT IS YOUR SELFLESS SERVICE THAT ALLOWS THE REST 
OF AMERICA TO ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS; LESS THAN 1 PERCENT OF AMERICANS WEAR THE 
UNIFORM, YOU GUARANTEE FREEDOM FOR THE OTHER 99 PERCENT.

3.  IN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, I WANT EVERY SAILOR AND MARINE TO KNOW THAT THE 
NAVY, MARINE CORPS, AND THE NATION ARE THINKING OF YOU AND SUPPORT YOU.  WE 
THANK THE SAILORS ON STATION IN THE ARABIAN GULF, GULF OF ADEN, AND SEA OF 
JAPAN.  WE THANK THE MARINES FORWARD DEPLOYED TO OKINAWA.  WE THANK THOSE 
SAILORS AND MARINES FIGHTING IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ.  WE THANK THOSE OF YOU 
SERVING AT HOME AND THE THOUSANDS OF YOU DEPLOYED WORLDWIDE AS WELL AS THE 
WONDERFUL FAMILIES THAT SUPPORT YOU.  AND WE REMEMBER THE HUNDREDS OF 
THOUSANDS OF PROUD AMERICANS THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE US TO ESTABLISH THE NAVY 
AND MARINE CORPS AS THE FINEST FIGHTING FORCE THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.

4.  THANK YOU FOR STANDING ON THE WALLS AND DEFENDING OUR NATION.
GODSPEED, AND BEST WISHES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.

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

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