R 101747Z NOV 11

ALCOAST 525/11
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ: 236TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
1. TO ALL MARINES AND YOUR FAMILIES, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
2. YOU ARE MOST READY WHEN OUR NATION HAS NEEDED IT.  SINCE YOUR
FOUNDING IN 1775, YOU HAVE COURAGEOUSLY DEFENDED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS, AND OUR ALLIES AROUND THE GLOBE.  FROM NEW
PROVIDENCE ISLAND IN 1776 TO BELLEAU WOOD, PELELIU, INCHON, HUE AND
COUNTLESS OTHER BATTLES, MARINES HAVE SELFLESSLY SACRIFICED TO
PROTECT THE FREEDOM WE CHERISH.  TODAY, YOU ARE DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT
THE WORLD, TAKING THE FIGHT TO OUR ENEMIES AND SERVING AS A BEACON OF
HOPE FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE SEEKING A BETTER FUTURE.
3. THE MARINE CORPS ALSO HAS A PROUD HISTORY OF PROVIDING
HUMANITARIAN AID TO THOSE IN NEED.  AFTER THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE
AND SUBSEQUENT TSUNAMI IN JAPAN, IT WAS THE THIRD MARINE
EXPEDITIONARY FORCE WHICH UNHESITATINGLY ANSWERED THE CALL AND FOR 45
DAYS DELIVERED VITAL RELIEF SUPPLIES, SAVING COUNTLESS LIVES.
4. AS THE TWO SMALLER SEA SERVICES, WE ENJOY A SPECIAL BOND.  WE LOOK
FORWARD TO REVISING OUR JOINT COMMITMENT WITH THE NAVY SET FORTH IN
THE COOPERATIVE STRATEGY FOR 21ST CENTURY SEAPOWER: TO DETER, DEFEND
AND DEFEAT THOSE THAT THREATEN THE FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION IN THE
GLOBAL COMMONS.
5. WE ARE HONORED TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU.  SEMPER FIDELIS.
6. ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT, UNITED STATES COAST GUARD,
SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.