VETERANS DAY

R 061409Z NOV 25
ALMAR 021/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/VETERANS DAY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. On behalf of all United States Marines, I extend
our deepest gratitude to every American who has honorably served in
the Armed Forces of our Nation. Originally established in 1919 as
Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I, this observance was
formally renamed Veterans Day after the Korean War to recognize the
contributions of all veterans across every Service and era.
2. To the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen,
and Guardians who have served, thank you. Whether serving on land,
at sea, in the air, in space, or in cyberspace, you stood watch
around the globe in times of peace and in the crucible of combat,
defending our ideals and interests. Your dedication and sacrifice
have secured the liberties we enjoy today.
3. This Veterans Day, I call upon every Marine to reflect on the
legacy of courage, perseverance, and honor that veterans have built.
We owe a debt of gratitude to those who came before us. Let us
reaffirm our commitment to the high standards they set in defending
the freedoms we all enjoy.
4. Semper Fidelis, Eric M. Smith, General, U.S. Marine Corps,
Commandant of the Marine Corps.//