ALCOAST 229/08
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ:MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION DAY
1.  THIS FRIDAY MARKS MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION DAY.  PLEASE
JOIN ME IN THANKING THE OUTSTANDING HUSBANDS AND WIVES OF OUR COAST
GUARD FAMILY FOR ALL THEY DO TO MAKE OUR SERVICE POSSIBLE.
2.  GROWING UP IN A MILITARY FAMILY, AND THROUGHOUT MY OWN CAREER,
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT SPOUSES ARE THE HEART,
SOUL AND BACKBONE OF THE COAST GUARD.  SPOUSES SECURE THE
HOMEFRONT, TAKE CARE OF FAMILY, AND PROVIDE THE SUPPORT FOR US SO
THAT WE CAN BETTER SERVE THE NATION.
3.  PRESIDENT BUSH RECENTLY RECOGNIZED MILITARY FAMILIES DURING A
WHITE HOUSE OBSERVANCE OF MILITARY SPOUSES.  AT THE CEREMONY, HE
HONORED SIX MILITARY SPOUSES FOR THE PRESIDENTS VOLUNTEER SERVICE
AWARD.  ONE OF THOSE WAS RAMONA VAZQUEZ OF THE COAST YARD IN
BALTIMORE.  MS. VAZQUEZ IS PRESIDENT OF THE BALTIMORE AREA COAST
GUARD SPOUSES ASSOCIATION.  SHE CREATED AND MAINTAINS A WEB SITE
FOR COAST GUARD FAMILIES COMING TO BALTIMORE, AND SHE ALSO FOUNDED
A SERVICE THAT PROVIDES FREE DIAPERS, FORMULA, CLOTHES AND TOYS TO
MILITARY AND CIVILIAN FAMILIES.  SHE HAS MADE REMARKABLE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR SERVICE THROUGH HER SELFLESS SPIRIT.  MS.
VAZQUEZ AND ALL OUR MILITARY SPOUSES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR
SUCCESS.
4.  TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF THESE SPOUSES, I
ENCOURAGE COMMANDERS, COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE
TO HONOR AND PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR
SPOUSES DURING MAY.  COMMAND CEREMONIES ARE APPROPRIATE, AND
EVENING ACTIVITIES MAY ACCOMMODATE THE SCHEDULES OF WORKING
SPOUSES.
5.  MY WIFE PAM AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK YOUR
HUSBANDS AND WIVES.
6.  ADM THAD ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
7.  INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.