R 101227Z SEP 10

ALCOAST 449/10
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ: 63RD BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
1. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD WISH THE UNITED
STATES AIR FORCE A HAPPY 63RD BIRTHDAY.
2. SINCE SEPTEMBER 18, 1947, THE AIR FORCE HAS VALIANTLY DEFENDED THE
CAUSE OF FREEDOM. TODAY, MORE THAN 300,000 AIR FORCE PERSONNEL ARE
DEPLOYED AROUND THE GLOBE STANDING THE WATCH, SUPPORTING OUR FORCES
AND PROTECTING OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS.
3. THIS YEAR, YOUR RESPONSE TO NATURAL AND MAN-MADE DISASTERS WAS
HEROIC. FOLLOWING A DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI, YOUR AIRMEN
SWIFTLY ARRIVED WITH MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.  YOUR
AIR CONTROLLERS TOOK CHARGE OF THE SKIES, COORDINATED THE SAFE
LANDING OF THOUSANDS OF AIRCRAFT, AND MAXIMIZED THE CAPACITY OF
PORT-AU-PRINCES SMALL AIRPORT. BECAUSE THE PORT FACILITIES WERE
VIRTUALLY DESTROYED, THIS AIR BRIDGE WAS TRULY THE LIFE-LINE TO THE
RELIEF EFFORT. YOUR HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS SAVED COUNTLESS LIVES.
4. FOLLOWING THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL, YOU ONCE AGAIN TOOK
CHARGE OF THE SKIES, DECONFLICTING HUNDREDS OF AIRCRAFT FLYING IN
SUPPORT OF THE RESPONSE, AND ENSURING THOUSANDS OF SORTIES WERE
SAFELY COMPLETED. YOUR EFFORTS WERE CRITICAL TO MANAGING THIS
UNPRECEDENTED ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, PROTECTING THE GULF OF MEXICO
AND A WAY OF LIFE FOR THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS.
5. THOUGH SEARCH AND RESCUE IS THE COMMON BOND THAT UNITES THE AIR
FORCE AND COAST GUARD, COAST GUARD AIRCREWS ALSO PROUDLY SERVE
ALONGSIDE AIR FORCE AIRCREWS PROTECTING THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION
AND PROVIDING VITAL AIRSPACE SECURITY DURING EVENTS OF NATIONAL
SIGNIFICANCE.
6. THE COAST GUARD IS HONORED TO SERVE WITH YOU. YOUR CORE
VALUES-INTEGRITY FIRST, SERVICE BEFORE SELF, EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE
DO-TRULY CAPTURE YOUR SERVICE TO THIS NATION. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. SEMPER
PARATUS.
7. ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.