R 281302Z MAY 10

ALCOAST 278/10
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ: COMMANDANTS MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE
1. SHIPMATES, MEMORIAL DAY IS THE DAY WE REMEMBER THE SACRIFICE OF
OUR FELLOW COASTGUARDSMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE TO OUR
NATION.  BY TAKING TIME TODAY TO ATTEND TO THE MANNERS OF OUR
PROFESSION, WE SHOW RESPECT TO OUR SHIPMATES AND HONOR THOSE BRAVE
MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US.  THEIR SERVICE IS PART OF
OUR HERITAGE.
2. THE COAST GUARD HAS SERVED HONORABLY IN EVERY WAR IN WHICH THE
UNITED STATES HAS BEEN ENGAGED AS PART OF OR WITH THE NAVY.  AS
FORMER COMMANDANT ADM FREDERICK C. BILLARD SAID AT THE DEDICATION
OF THE COAST GUARD MEMORIAL IN ARLINGTON, CEMETERY, THE COAST GUARD
IS TWICE BLESSED.  IT HAS NOT ONLY ITS OWN RICH HERITAGE AND
HISTORY TO BE PROUD OF, BUT IT CAN BE EQUALLY PROUD OF THE SPLENDID
HERITAGE AND HISTORY OF THE NAVY.  THEREFORE, WE HAVE TWO LOFTY
STANDARDS TO GUIDE US, WHICH WE SHOULD STRIVE TO UPHOLD.
3. IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO ARLINGTON CEMETERY, OR ONE OF OUR
OTHER NATIONAL CEMETERIES, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT ONE THIS
WEEKEND, OR TO OBSERVE THE DAY BY ATTENDING ONE OF THE MANY
MEMORIAL DAY PARADES OR TRIBUTES HELD THROUGHOUT THE NATION. MASTER
CHIEF LEAVITT, VADM BRICE-OHARA AND I WILL ATTEND THE MEMORIAL DAY
OBSERVANCE AT THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, AND MY FAMILY AND I
WILL HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING THE COAST GUARD AT THE NATIONAL
MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT.
4. I AM IMMENSELY PROUD OF ALL COASTGUARDSMEN STANDING THE WATCH
PERFORMING OUR MANY MARITIME MISSIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT
ESPECIALLY ON MEMORIAL DAY. YOUR DEDICATION TO DUTY CONTINUES TO
ENSURE THAT OUR NATION REMAINS SAFE AND SECURE.  ON THIS MEMORIAL
DAY, LET US REFLECT UPON OUR HERITAGE AND THE PROUD LEGACY
BEQUEATHED TO US BY OUR FALLEN SHIPMATES. LET US NEVER FORGET THESE
HEROES.
5. RELEASED BY ADMIRAL BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.