R 072116Z NOV 07 ZUI ASN-A00311000015 ZYB

FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC

TO ALLHANDS

BT UNCLAS //N01000//

SUBJ:  COMMANDANTS VETERANS DAY MESSAGE

1.  IT WAS 89 YEARS AGO WHEN THE WORLD BREATHED A COLLECTIVE SIGH OF RELIEF AS THE ARMISTICE WAS SIGNED ENDING WORLD WAR I.  SINCE THE CIVIL WAR, MORE THAN 270,000 COAST GUARD MEN AND WOMEN HAVE FOUGHT IN ARMED CONFLICTS AROUND THE WORLD, AND OVER 2100 LOST THEIR LIVES.

2.  VETERANS DAY ALSO MARKS THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. INVASION OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS IN WORLD WAR II.  THE BATTLE FOR GUADALCANAL LOOMS LARGE IN COAST GUARD HISTORY.  IT WAS THERE THAT SIGNALMAN FIRST CLASS DOUGLAS MUNRO WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED WHILE RESCUING A BATTALION OF STRANDED MARINES.  AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HIS HEROISM, HE IS THE EPITOME OF COAST GUARD DEVOTION TO DUTY.

3. THIS WEEKEND, I WILL JOIN COAST GUARD MEN AND WOMEN COMMEMORATING VETERANS DAY AT A WREATH LAYING CEREMONY AT THE COAST GUARD WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.  I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN THE UPCOMING DEDICATION OF THE COAST GUARD PACIFIC VETERANS MEMORIAL.  THIS MONUMENT, FEATURING A STONE FROM GUADALCANAL BROUGHT BACK BY CGC WALNUT, WILL SYMBOLIZE
THE COURAGE AND DEDICATION OF COAST GUARD MEN AND WOMEN IN WARTIME AND PEACE.

4. OUR SERVICE HAS GROWN AND EVOLVED WITH THE CHANGING TIMES, WHILE REMAINING THE WORLDS BEST COAST GUARD.  IT WAS FORTY YEARS AGO THAT WE INTRODUCED OUR DISTINCTIVE RACING STRIPE, NOW RECOGNIZED AND REPLICATED WORLDWIDE.  FORTY YEARS FROM NOW, EACH OF YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR THE MARK YOU PUT ON OUR SERVICE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

5. MY PERSONAL THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR "CHIEFS MESS" FOR THEIR SPONSORSHIP OF COAST GUARD FLAGS ACROSS AMERICA.  DCC CLYDE ALLEN (USCG RETIRED) SENDS HIS BZ.

6. TODAY, AS YOU REFLECT ON THE SACRIFICES OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THIS GREAT NATION, TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.  NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER AND VALUE OF YOUR DEDICATION, COMMITMENT AND DEVOTION TO DUTY.

ADMIRAL THAD ALLEN SENDS.

INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.

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