ON NOVEMBER 10TH, 1775, OUR CORPS WAS BORN AS THE
CONTINENTAL CONGRESS RAISED THE "FIRST AND SECOND BATTALIONS OF AMERICAN
MARINES."  EACH YEAR AS WE CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAY, WE PAUSE TO REFLECT
ON THE MARINES OF YESTERYEAR WHO FOUGHT IN OUR TOUCHSTONE BATTLES AND
FORGED THE MODERN MARINE CORPS WITH THEIR COURAGE, INTEGRITY, AND
UNDYING COMMITMENT TO THEIR FELLOW MARINES.  EACH OF OUR STORIED BATTLES
IS A LINK IN THE LONG CHAIN THAT BINDS ALL MARINES TOGETHER-FROM THE
CONTINENTAL MARINES AT BUNKER HILL TO THE TEUFELHUNDEN CROSSING THE
WHEAT FIELDS OF BELLEAU WOOD.  THIS CHAIN BINDS US TO THE MARINES ON THE
CREST OF MOUNT SURIBACHI; IT PASSES THROUGH THE ICE AND SNOW OF THE
CHOSIN RESERVOIR AND THE STEAMING JUNGLES OF VIETNAM, AND IT ANCHORS
FIRMLY TODAY IN THE DESERT SANDS OF IRAQ.

    THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION AGAIN FINDS MANY FROM OUR RANKS SERVING WITH
DISTINCTION IN HARM'S WAY.  AS WE HAVE FOR THE PAST 231 YEARS, OUR CORPS
IS ANSWERING THE NATION'S CALL.  I CAN REPORT FIRST HAND THAT OUR
MARINES FIGHTING ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE LONG WAR ON TERROR ARE
PERFORMING BRILLIANTLY, ACQUITTING THEMSELVES WITH HONOR, DEDICATION,
AND DIGNITY IN DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS.

    ALL MARINES ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.  REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE
SERVING, YOU ARE ADDING NEW CHAPTERS TO THE LEGACY THAT WAS EARNED WITH
SWEAT AND BLOOD ON OLD BATTLEFIELDS.  JUST AS PREVIOUS GENERATIONS OF
MARINES SHAPED TODAY'S MARINE CORPS, YOUR DEEDS ARE MOLDING THE CORPS OF
TOMORROW.  OUR CORPS HAS NEVER BEEN STRONGER, AND ALL AMERICANS ARE
EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOUR MAGNIFICENT PERFORMANCE AND UNWAVERING
COMMITMENT TO SERVE OUR CORPS AND COUNTRY.  WITH HIGH CALIBER MARINES
LIKE YOU, OUR FUTURE HAS NEVER BEEN BRIGHTER.

    ANOTHER IRREPLACEABLE ELEMENT OF OUR SUCCESS AS MARINES IS THE TERRIFIC
SUPPORT WE RECEIVE FROM OUR FAMILIES.  THROUGH THE LONG HOURS, THE
EXERCISES, AND THE COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS, THEIR SUPPORT IS UNCONDITIONAL
AND FIRM.  THEY GIVE US LOVE AND DEVOTION, PROVIDING US WITH THE
STRENGTH TO DRIVE ON WHEN DUTY CALLS.  TODAY WE SHOULD ALL ACKNOWLEDGE
OUR LOVED ONES FOR THEIR PATIENT, STEADFAST SERVICE.
TO ALL WHO HAVE EARNED THE TITLE MARINE, TO THE SUPERB SAILORS WHO SERVE
WITH US IN EVERY CLIME AND PLACE, AND TO OUR PRECIOUS FAMILIES-I WISH
EACH ONE OF YOU A HEARTFELT HAPPY 231ST BIRTHDAY.

SEMPER FIDELIS AND KEEP ATTACKING!
M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS