ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 232323Z MAR 00 ZYB MIN PSN 327982J31
 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N09//
 
TO NAVADMIN
 
UNCLAS //N00000//
NAVADMIN 068/00
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO N09//
 
SUBJ/BATTLE OF MIDWAY COMMEMORATION//
 
RMKS/1. LAST YEAR CNO OUTLINED HIS GOAL FOR PRESERVING AND
BUILDING UPON OUR RICH NAVAL HERITAGE AND ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO
CELEBRATE ANNUALLY THE TWO MOST PROMINENT DAYS OF OUR NAVY'S
PAST, OUR BIRTHDAY, 13 OCTOBER 1775, AND THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE
BATTLE OF MIDWAY, 4 JUNE 1942.  THIS NAVADMIN PROVIDES ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION ON THIS YEAR'S MIDWAY COMMEMORATION.
 
2. THE COURAGE, SACRIFICE, HEROISM AND TEAMWORK OF EVERY SAILOR
IN THAT PIVOTAL BATTLE FOR THE PACIFIC DURING WORLD WAR II
WARRANTS OUR STUDY, EMULATION AND REVERENCE.  ALTHOUGH WE CAN
IDENTIFY EQUAL ACTS OF SELFLESSNESS AND BRAVERY THROUGHOUT OUR
224 YEAR HISTORY, MIDWAY IS UNIQUE IN THAT ON THE SHOULDERS OF
THE COURAGEOUS SAILORS WHO FOUGHT THERE, RESTED THE FATE OF THE
PACIFIC AND POSSIBLY THE WORLD.  THEIR VICTORY WAS ACHIEVED
THROUGH A SYNERGY OF EFFORTS WHICH INCLUDED THE BREAKING OF THE
ENEMY'S CODE, THE UNTIRING EFFORTS OF THOSE WHO HELPED SUSTAIN OUR
FORCES, AND THE SAILORS AT THE TIP OF THE SPEAR WHO DEFEATED
VASTLY SUPERIOR ENEMY FORCES.  THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY EPITOMIZES
THE WARFIGHTING SPIRIT THAT ON A DAILY BASIS WE STRIVE
TO DEMONSTRATE IN THE ADRIATIC AND OFF THE COAST OF IRAQ.
 
3. THIS JUNE WE WILL MARK THE FIRST BATTLE OF MIDWAY COMMEMORATION
WHERE WE WILL HOLD EVENTS TO HONOR THE NAVY OF YESTERDAY
AND THE SAILORS WHO LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR NAVY'S GREATNESS
TODAY.  COMMANDERS, COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE
ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMMEMORATE THE ANNIVERSARY AS DESIRED AND AS
DEEMED APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR COMMAND WITH EVENTS SUCH AS TOURS,
COMMEMORATION CEREMONIES, COMMAND FUNCTIONS, A DINING IN OR
DINING OUT TO INCLUDE SPOUSES, VETERANS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. EVENTS
THAT INFORM AND EDUCATE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL AUDIENCES AND PROMOTE
COMMAND AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS ARE ENCOURAGED.
 
4. MIDWAY NIGHT 2000 WILL CENTER AROUND 4 JUNE 2000, THE 58TH
ANNIVERSARY OF COMMENCEMENT OF THE BATTLE.  COMMANDS SHOULD HOLD
EVENTS EITHER ON 4 JUNE 2000 OR AS CLOSE TO THE DATE AS FEASIBLE
BASED ON OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND LOCAL FACTORS THAT WOULD
FACILITATE MAXIMUM ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION.  THE NAVAL
HISTORICAL CENTER HAS ADDED A MIDWAY NIGHT INFORMATION PAGE TO THEIR
WEBSITE (WWW.HISTORY.NAVY.MIL).  THIS SITE INCLUDES BATTLE OF MIDWAY
GENERAL INFO, REGIONAL POINTS OF CONTACT AND INFO ON MIDWAY VETERANS
GROUPS.
A SAMPLE AGENDA FOR A "MIDWAY NIGHT" DINING IN EVENT WILL BE POSTED
IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
 
5. OUR NAVY'S HISTORY IS REPLETE WITH ACTS OF HONOR, COURAGE AND
COMMITMENT WHERE SAILORS HAVE DONE THEIR DUTY TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY
AND ITS CITIZENS.  THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF
SACRIFICE, SERVICE BEFORE SELF AND A FITTING VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH
TO HONOR ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED TO OUR NAVY'S PROUD HERITAGE.  I LOOK
FORWARD TO COMMEMORATING THIS SPECIAL OCCASION WITH YOU, THE FINEST
SAILORS IN THE WORLD.
 
6. RELEASED BY ADM D. L. PILLING, VCNO.//
 
BT