TO AL NAVADMIN(uc) R 011406Z JUN 04 UNCLAS //NOO// NAVADMIN 127/04 MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N00/-/JUN// SUBJ/CNO MIDWAY MESSAGE TO THE NAVY// RMKS/1. OUR NAVY HAS FOUGHT MANY IMPORTANT BATTLES IN THE NATION'S 228-YEAR HISTORY, NONE MORE PIVOTAL THAN THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY. THE NAVY TURNED THE TIDE OF THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC AT MIDWAY, AND MORE THAN SIX DECADES AFTER THAT HISTORIC BATTLE WE CONTINUE TO WALK TALL AND SAIL PROUDLY. 2. IN 1942 AT MIDWAY, NAVY SAILORS FOUGHT WITH VALOR AND SKILL THAT SET THE STANDARD FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SEA WARRIORS. THEY CARRIED THE TORCH AND STOOD THE WATCH IN THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. 3. TODAY, THE TORCH IS OURS TO CARRY. AS WE TAKE THE FIGHT TO THE ENEMIES OF FREEDOM, WE ARE PROUD TO SAIL THE COURSE CHARTED BY THE SAILORS AT MIDWAY. REST ASSURED, LIKE THEM, WE WILL PREVAIL. 4. WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO MIDWAY VETERANS FOR THEIR STORIED CONTRIBUTION TO OUR LEGACY OF VICTORY, SERVICE, AND LEADERSHIP. THEY HAVE EARNED THE LASTING REVERENCE OF OUR NAVY AND NATION. 5. AS WE MARK THE BEGINNING OF THIS BATTLE 62 YEARS AGO ON 4 JUNE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REFLECT ON THE SACRIFICE OF OUR SHIPMATES WHO WENT BEFORE US. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, VISIT WWW.HISTORY.NAVY.MIL/FAQS/FAQ81-1.HTM. 6. RELEASED BY ADM VERN CLARK, CNO.// BT NNNN