RTTUZYUW RUEWMCS0000 2811328-UUUU--RUCRNAV
ZNR UUUUU
R 081328Z OCT 10
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC 
TO ALNAV 
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UNCLAS //N05750/ 
ALNAV 066/10 

MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/OCT// 

SUBJ/SECNAV BIRTHDAY MESSAGE TO THE FLEET// 

RMKS/1. FOR TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIVE YEARS, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE 
NAVY HAVE GONE DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS. BUT TODAY'S SAILORS ALSO ROAM 
THE DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN, SOAR IN THE CLOUDS, PATROL THE MOUNTAIN TRAILS 
OF AFGHANISTAN, BUILD AIRFIELDS, HOSPITALS, AND SCHOOLS, AND CARE FOR 
THOSE AFFECTED BY DISASTER. 

2. THROUGH IT ALL, THE PRACTICES OF DEPLOYMENT ARE THE SAME. SAILORS 
KISS THEIR LOVED ONES, CAST A WEATHER EYE AT THE HORIZON, AND SET SAIL 
FOR WEEKS, MONTHS, OR EVEN YEARS. IN DOING SO, EVERY SAILOR SACRIFICES 
BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR 
NAVY STRONG AND OUR NATION SAFE. OVER OUR HISTORY, COUNTLESS THOUSANDS 
HAVE GONE FURTHER, AND MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. IN AFGHANISTAN AND 
IRAQ TODAY, SOME CONTINUE TO DO SO. 

3. IT IS BECAUSE OF THE KEEN DEVOTION TO DUTY OF EVERY SAILOR, AND THE 
TREMENDOUS PROFESSIONALISM EXHIBITED BY OUR FORCES, THAT THE NAVY HAS 
BECOME THE MOST FORMIDABLE EXPEDITIONARY FIGHTING FORCE THE WORLD HAS 
EVER KNOWN. FOR TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIVE YEARS, THE NAVY HAS FORMED 
THE MARITIME BULWARK OF THE UNITED STATES - DEFENDING OUR SHORES; 
PROTECTING OUR COMMERCE; FURTHERING OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS; BUILDING 
PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR ALLIES; AND WHEN NECESSARY, DECISIVELY CARRYING 
THE FIGHT TO THE ENEMIES OF FREEDOM AND THOSE WHO WOULD THREATEN 
AMERICA'S PEACE, SAFETY, AND SECURITY. 

4. YOU, OUR SAILORS, CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT LEGACY OF SELFLESS AND 
PATRIOTIC SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR 
THE SACRIFICES BOTH YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES MAKE EVERY DAY. THANK YOU FOR 
WEARING THE UNIFORM. GODSPEED AND HAPPY 235TH BIRTHDAY. 

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

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