R 020918Z FEB 01 ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//MP//
TO MARADMIN
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UNCLAS/N05354//
MARADMIN 063/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC MPE//
SUBJ/2001 OBSERVANCE OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH//
POC/G.M. ELLIS/MAJ/DSN: 278-9371/CML: (703) 784-9371//
RMKS/1. MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, AN IDEAL OCCASION TO
REFLECT ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WOMEN HAVE MADE TO THE
STRENGTH AND DIRECTION OF OUR CORPS. THIS YEAR'S THEME IS,
"INSPIRING STORIES OF VISION AND COURAGE."
2. OUR HISTORY CHRONICLES COUNTLESS ACHIEVEMENTS AND
SACRIFICES BY WOMEN SERVING IN, AND FOR, OUR CORPS. THIS
UNIQUE LINEAGE CAN TRACE ITS ROOTS BACK TO LUCY BREWER, THE
LEGENDARY WOMAN WHO SERVED ABOARD THE USS CONSTITUTION DURING
THE WAR OF 1812. LATER, A SMALL BAND OF WOMEN OFFICIALLY
ANSWERED OUR CORPS' CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS DURING WORLD WAR I.
NEARLY A GENERATION LATER, WORLD WAR II-ERA WOMEN MARINES
PERFORMED MILITARY DUTIES IN FAR GREATER NUMBERS. SERVING IN
EVERY CLIME AND PLACE, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS PAVED THE WAY FOR
WOMEN MARINES TODAY. WOMEN MARINES CONTINUED TO EARN
ACCOLADES FOR THEIR SERVICE IN PEACETIME AND DURING WARS IN
KOREA, VIETNAM, AND SOUTHWEST ASIA.
3. MOREOVER, WE CANNOT FORGET THE ACHIEVEMENTS, CONTRIBUTIONS,
AND SACRIFICES OF MARINE WIVES AND THE WOMEN SERVING THE CORPS
AS CIVILIAN MARINES. THEY HAVE MADE THE MARINE CORPS BETTER
AND STRONGER. TOGETHER, WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MARINE
CORPS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE PROFOUND IMPACT ON OUR CORPS'
READINESS AND WARFIGHTING CAPABILITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
4. COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN AS INDIVIDUALS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, AS
ESSENTIAL MEMBERS OF THE MARINE TEAM. COMMANDERS ARE FURTHER
ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS AND PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN
OBSERVANCE EVENTS ON BASE AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
COMMANDERS ARE ALSO AUTHORIZED TO DEVELOP LOCAL THEMES FOR USE
AT THEIR COMMANDS.//
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