R 091524Z NOV 12

ALCOAST 479/12
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ: 2012 VETERANS DAY MESSAGE
1. EVERY YEAR, ON THE 11TH HOUR OF THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH, WE
PAUSE TO HONOR ALL THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN
UNIFORM.
2. ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED IN 1919 AS ARMISTICE DAY TO COMMEMORATE THE
ALLIED VICTORY AND HONOR THE HEROISM OF SERVICEMEMBERS KILLED DURING
WORLD WAR I, VETERANS DAY IS NOW A TIME TO PAY HOMAGE TO ALL VETERANS
WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF THIS NATION AND TO
REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES OF THOSE WHO FOUGHT TO PRESERVE OUR HERITAGE
OF FREEDOM.
3. HISTORICALLY, TWO MINUTES OF SILENCE WERE OBSERVED AT THIS MOMENT.
THE FIRST MINUTE WAS IN HONOR OF THOSE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM WHO
MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.  THE SECOND
WAS TO HONOR THE FAMILIES LEFT BEHIND.  AS WE NOW HONOR OUR
PROFESSION BY PAYING TRIBUTE TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED, IT IS
APPROPRIATE FOR US LIKEWISE TO REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES MADE BY OUR
MILITARY FAMILIES.
4. FOR OVER 222 YEARS, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES COAST
GUARD HAVE ANSWERED THIS NATIONS CALL.  EVEN AS WE PAUSE TODAY TO
REMEMBER THEIR SERVICE, WE MUST BE MINDFUL OF THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO
STAND THE WATCH - IN THE AIR, AT SEA, ON FOREIGN SHORES, AND HERE AT
HOME.
5. THIS YEAR, AS BEFORE, MANY IN OUR COAST GUARD FAMILY WILL GATHER
AT THE COAST GUARD WORLD WAR MEMORIAL IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL
CEMETERY TO HONOR OUR VETERANS. THE COAST GUARD MEMORIAL HONORS THE
CREWS OF THE CUTTERS SENECA AND TAMPA WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE
DURING WORLD WAR I.  IN MY VETERANS DAY MESSAGE LAST YEAR, I
MENTIONED THAT DECADES OF WEATHER AND EXPOSURE HAD DETERIORATED ITS
CONDITION, AND I COMMITTED THE COAST GUARD TO RENEW AND PRESERVE THIS
MEMORIAL.  THANKS TO THE TREMENDOUS EFFORTS OF OUR WASHINGTON D.C.
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER ASSOCIATION, THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS RESTORATION
IS COMPLETE.  THE FINAL PHASE WILL BEGIN IN THE COMING WEEKS.  YOU
CAN SEE THESE EFFORTS AT HTTP://WDCCPOA.ORG. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS
THE MEMORIAL WILL REMAIN A WORTHY TRIBUTE AND ENDURING INSPIRATION
FOR ALL AMERICANS.
6. THANK YOU TO THE WOMEN AND MEN OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
AND VETERANS FROM ALL U.S. ARMED SERVICES FOR YOUR SELFLESS SERVICE
AND CONTINUING CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NATION.
7. SEMPER PARATUS.
8. ADMIRAL BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT, AND MASTER CHIEF MICHAEL LEAVITT,
MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER OF THE COAST GUARD, SEND.
9. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.