SUBJ: COMMANDANTS VETERANS DAY MESSAGE
1. VETERANS DAY IS THE NATIONAL HOLIDAY WHEN WE HONOR AND THANK OUR
VETERANS - PAST AND PRESENT - FOR THEIR SERVICE. ITS A DAY TO HONOR
OUR PROFESSION. THOSE OF US NOT ON WATCH HAVE THE CHOICE TO TAKE
VETERANS DAY OFF, HOWEVER, WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT WE ONLY HAVE
THIS CHOICE BECAUSE OF OUR VETERANS HEROIC SERVICE. MANY OF THEM HAD
NO CHOICE - THEY HAD TO GO TO WAR.
2. OUR NATION OWES ITS EXISTENCE TO THE GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS WHO
HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED, AND WHO CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND DIE - OR SUFFER
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WOUNDS - DEFENDING OUR FREEDOMS. IT IS A DEBT
THAT CAN NOT TRULY BE PAID. WHAT WE CAN DO - WHAT WE MUST DO - IS TO
USE THIS OCCASION TO SHOW OUR GRATITUDE BY HONORING THEIR SERVICE.
3. THIS IS OUR CHOSEN PROFESSION. THIS IS WHO WE ARE. THIS IS WHAT
WE DO. IT ALSO MAKES US UNIQUE. OUR NATIONS ALL-VOLUNTEER 2.4
MILLION ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVISTS, IN A COUNTRY OF OVER 300 MILLION,
REPRESENTS LESS THAN 1 PERCENT OF THE AMERICAN POPULATION. OUR
CHOSEN PROFESSION HAS BECOME SOMETHING THAT FEW OTHER PEOPLE CHOOSE
TO DO. IN HONORING THOSE WHO WENT BEFORE US, WE REINFORCE TO THEIR
FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THEIR SACRIFICES, AND THE
GRATITUDE WE AS A NATION HAVE FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO SOMETHING
LARGER THAN THEMSELVES.
4. I ENCOURAGE THOSE OF YOU NOT STANDING THE WATCH TO ATTEND A LOCAL
VETERANS DAY CEREMONY OR PARADE OR FIND SOME OTHER MEANINGFUL WAY TO
HONOR THOSE WHO SERVE, REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED, AND TO HUMBLY
SAY THANK YOU.
5. I, ALONG WITH MASTER CHIEF LEAVITT AND OUR WIVES, WILL VISIT
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY TO ATTEND THE NATIONAL VETERANS DAY
SERVICE AT THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, FOLLOWED BY A SERVICE AT
THE COAST GUARD WAR MEMORIAL. WE HOPE TO SEE MANY OF OUR SHIPMATES
IN ATTENDANCE - YOU ARE ALL WELCOME TO JOIN US.
6. FOR THOSE OF YOU STANDING THE WATCH, PROTECTING OUR HOMELAND, OR
SUPPORTING OUR SISTER SERVICES IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR, THANK
YOU. YOU EXEMPLIFY THE VERY BEST OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE COAST
GUARDSMEN, AND I AM PROUD TO SHARE IN THE PRIVILEGE OF DEFENDING OUR
FREEDOMS.
7. THANK YOU TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
-PAST AND PRESENT - FOR YOUR SELFLESS SERVICE. SEMPER PARATUS.
8. ADM ROBERT PAPP, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
(Photo Credit: USCG)
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