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ROUTINE
R 281550Z JUN 10
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UNCLAS
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
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ALNAV 044/10

MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/JUN//
SUBJ/SECNAV INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE TO THE FLEET//

RMKS/1.  ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1776, 56 PATRIOTS COMMITTED THEIR 
INDIVIDUAL COLONIES TO TAKE UP ARMS AND WIN THEIR FREEDOM FROM AN 
OVERSEAS RULER.  THEY CAME TOGETHER AS REPRESENTATIVES OF 13 COLONIES, 
BUT LEFT AS CITIZENS OF A NEW NATION UNIQUE UPON THIS EARTH, DEDICATED 
TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

2.  WHAT BEGAN 234 YEARS AGO ENDURES TODAY.  THE UNITED STATES IS STILL 
A BASTION OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY AND REMAINS UNIQUE AS A NATION UPON 
THE EARTH.

3.  AT HOME AND ABROAD, THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS ESTABLISHED BY OUR 
FOREFATHERS CONTINUES TO DEFEND THAT LEGACY.  THE EXAMPLE OF THE 
THOUSANDS OF PATRIOTS THAT SERVED IN THE REVOLUTION NOW EMBODIED IN THE 
THOUSANDS OF SAILORS AND MARINES AT WAR IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ AND ON 
PATROL ACROSS THE WORLD'S OCEANS.

4.  SO AS AMERICANS EVERYWHERE CELEBRATE THE FOURTH IN BACKYARD 
BARBECUES AND WITH FIREWORKS THAT RECALL THE RED GLARE OF THE ROCKETS 
AND BOMBS DURING THE BATTLE OF BALTIMORE IN SEPTEMBER 1814, I'D ASK YOU 
TO REMEMBER THE LEGACY THAT WE HAVE ALL INHERITED.  TAKE PRIDE IN OUR 
NATION'S 234 YEARS OF LIBERTY.

5.  FOR THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES AND DEPLOYED AWAY FROM HOME, KNOW THAT 
YOU ARE FOREMOST IN OUR THOUGHTS; AND TO ALL IN UNIFORM, THANK YOU 
AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE.  HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY.

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

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