UNCLASSIFIED//

ROUTINE

R 241445Z MAY 10
BT
UNCLAS
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
TO ALNAV

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UNCLAS
ALNAV 038/10

MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/MAY//

SUBJ/SECNAV MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE TO THE FLEET//

RMKS/1.  SINCE THE CREATION OF MEMORIAL DAY IN THE WAKE OF THE CIVIL 
WAR, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR OUR 
COUNTRY IN BATTLES ACROSS THE GLOBE SO THAT FREEDOM COULD ENDURE AND 
OUR NATION PROSPER.

2.  SOME ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY STILL, IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ.
IN DOING SO, THEY ARE CARRYING ON THE LEGACY OF SERVICE AND SACRIFICE 
FORGED BY MARINES, SAILORS, SOLDIERS, AND AIRMEN AT PLACES LIKE BELLEAU 
WOOD, IWO JIMA, MIDWAY, AND KHAFJI.  NAMES TO WHICH WE NOW ADD TORA 
BORA, BAGHDAD, FALLUJAH, AND MARJEH.

3.  LET US NOT FORGET THE SACRIFICE OF THOSE WHO DIED.  LET US NOT 
FORGET THE DEEPER MEANING BEHIND THE DAY AMID THE PARADES AND BARBECUES 
THAT HAVE COME TO HERALD THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER.  LET US NOT FORGET 
THE REAL REASON THAT MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM MARCH EACH YEAR.

4.  MEMORIAL DAY IS OUR TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF THE FALLEN.  IT IS OUR 
PROMISE THAT THEY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.  GODSPEED.

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

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