P 201500Z NOV 00 ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
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UNCLAS //N01000//
ALMAR 043/00
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/THANKSGIVING DAY MESSAGE 2000//
POC/CPL WOODS/ADMIN CHIEF/CSG/-/TEL:(703) 614-2326
/EMAIL:WOODSJP@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
RMKS/1. THANKSGIVING WAS FIRST CELEBRATED IN THIS COUNTRY NEARLY
FOUR HUNDRED YEARS AGO. IT IS A DAY OF RICH TRADITIONS SET ASIDE
FOR EACH OF US TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE MANY THINGS THAT WE HOLD DEAR.
AS A CORPS, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
AND THE CONFIDENCE THEY PLACE IN OUR ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE
NATION'S SECURITY. AS MARINES, WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF EACH OTHER
AND THE SPECIAL BOND THAT UNITES US. WE ARE ALSO THANKFUL FOR THE
SAILORS THAT SERVE ALONGSIDE US AS WE PROTECT AND ADVANCE OUR
NATION'S INTERESTS. AS INDIVIDUALS WE CHERISH OUR SPOUSES,
CHILDREN, AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ENRICH OUR LIVES AND PROVIDE
US THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT THAT ALLOWS US TO BETTER CARRY OUT OUR
DUTIES.
2. PERSONALLY, I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL MARINES, PARTICULARLY THOSE
WHO ARE AWAY FROM FAMILY DOING THEIR DUTY FOR OUR CORPS AND COUNTRY.
OUR NATION REMAINS STRONG AND READY BECAUSE OF YOUR DEDICATION AND
RESOLVE. YOU CAN TAKE GREAT SATISFACTION IN YOUR IMPORTANT MISSIONS
AND SHOULD BE ASSURED THAT OUR FELLOW CITIZENS APPRECIATE YOUR
SERVICE.
3. AS WE GATHER WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY,
REMEMBER TO INCLUDE IN YOUR PRAYERS OUR FALLEN COMRADES. THEY ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING US WHO WE ARE. THEIR SACRIFICES HAVE
SECURED THE FREEDOM, LIBERTY, AND JUSTICE THAT THIS GENERATION
ENJOYS. WE ARE IN THEIR DEBT AND MUST ENDEAVOR TO MEET THE HIGH
STANDARDS THAT THEY HAVE SET FOR US.
4. DIANE AND I WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.
5. SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINES, COMMANDANT
OF THE MARINE CORPS.//