R 092105Z NOV 09

ALCOAST 641/09
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ: 234TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
1.   THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD WISH
THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS A HAPPY 234TH BIRTHDAY.
2. SINCE NOVEMBER 10TH, 1775, MARINES HAVE CONTINUED THE
EXTRAORDINARY TRADITION OF DEFENDING AMERICAS INTERESTS
AROUND THE WORLD.  AS AN AMPHIBIOUS EXPEDITIONARY FORCE,
THE MARINES ARE CAPABLE OF STRIKING FROM THE AIR, LAND, AND
SEA. FROM YOUR HISTORIC CAMPAIGNS AT IWO JIMA, CHOSIN
RESERVOIR, AND KHE SANH TO THE CURRENT COMBAT OPERATIONS IN
IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, THE MARINE CORPS COMMITMENT TO
EXCELLENCE IS LEGENDARY.  YOUR HUMANITARIAN RELIEF EFFORTS
IN THE PHILIPPINES FOLLOWING TROPICAL STORM KETSANA AND
TYPHOON PARMA, ALSO SHOWCASED HOW EFFECTIVE THE MARINE
CORPS IS ACROSS THE COMPLETE SPECTRUM OF MILITARY
OPERATIONS.
3.   OUR TWO SERVICES FOUGHT TOGETHER ON MANY PACIFIC
BEACHHEADS DURING WORLD WAR II AND NOW WE GRIEVE TOGETHER
OVER THE LOSS OF OUR MARINES AND GUARDIANS FOLLOWING THE
MID-AIR COLLISION ON 29 OCTOBER.  WE STAND WITH YOU AS WE
MOURN THEIR LOSS AND ALL THE OTHERS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR
LIVES IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
4.  MOVING FORWARD, I ANTICIPATE MANY FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES TO
IMPLEMENT THE "COOPERATIVE STRATEGY FOR 21ST CENTURY
SEAPOWER".   BY CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN PROTECT
OUR NATIONS VITAL INTERESTS AND PROMOTE SECURITY AND
PROSPERITY AROUND THE GLOBE.
5.  WHETHER AT HOME OR ABROAD, YOU ARE ALWAYS SEMPER FIDELIS.
WE WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS AND ARE HONORED TO SERVE
ALONGSIDE YOU AS PART OF THE JOINT FORCE.  SEMPER PARATUS.
6.  ADM T.W. ALLEN, COMMANDANT, UNITED STATES COAST GUARD,
SENDS.
7.  INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.