PP NOALL
DE NNN0ASA 092
P 091445Z NOV 2007
FM NNN0ASA VA
TO NNN0ALL
P 082040Z NOV 07 PSN 111444H15
FM CJCS WASHINGTON DC
TO ALMILACT
INFO ZEN/CJCS WASHINGTON DC
ZEN/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
BT
UNCLAS
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2005/CJCS (UC)/F002//
SUBJ/ALMILACT 13-07 - VETERANS DAY - 11 NOVEMBER 2007//
POC/CAPT KIRBY/703-697-4272/-/LOC:THE PENTAGON//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/'LET US SET OURSELVES A STANDARD SO HIGH THAT IT WILL
BE A GLORY TO LIVE UP TO IT ... AND THEN LET US LIVE UP TO IT.'  THAT
IS WHAT PRESIDENT WILSON SAID TO AMERICAN SOLDIERS HEADING OFF TO WAR
IN 1917, A WAR THE ENDING OF WHICH WE NOW COMMEMORATE AS VETERANS
DAY.

IT IS RIGHT THAT WE SET ASIDE A DAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BORNE THE
BURDEN OF DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY.  THEY ARE TYPICALLY OUR YOUNGEST.
IT IS RIGHT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THEIR SACRIFICE.  IT IS TYPICALLY THE
GREATEST THAT CAN BE MADE.  BUT SO, TOO, DOES VETERANS DAY REMIND US
OF THE POWER OF SERVICE, OF GIVING ONESELF OVER TO A CAUSE -- A
PURPOSE -- FAR GREATER THAN THE INDIVIDUAL.

THE SOLDIERS WHO STORMED THE BEACHES AT NORMANDY KNEW SUCH PURPOSE,
AS DID THE MARINES AT IWO JIMA ... THE SAILORS AT MIDWAY ... OUR
BRAVE AIRMEN OVER THE SKIES OF EUROPE.  IN WARS LARGE AND SMALL, LONG
AND SHORT, THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS NATION, YOUNG AMERICANS
HAVE CONSISTENTLY STEPPED INTO THE BREACH, RAISED THEIR RIGHT HANDS
AND MADE A PROMISE TO SERVE -- TO 'DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AGAINST
ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.'

TODAY, AMERICA'S MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM CONTINUE TO HEED THAT
PROMISE, TO LIVE UP TO THE SAME HIGH STANDARDS PRESIDENT WILSON
EXPECTED OF HIS DOUGHBOYS.  THEY KNOW THEY STAND ON THE BROAD
SHOULDERS OF VETERANS WHO SERVED BEFORE THEM, VETERANS WHO GAVE THEM
THE VERY FREEDOM FOR WHICH THEY NOW FIGHT.  THEY KNOW THEY COULDN'T
DO IT WITHOUT THE LOVE OF THEIR FAMILIES.  AND THEY KNOW THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE SUPPORT THEM.

I HAVE VISITED MANY OF OUR SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN AND MARINES IN
IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, KUWAIT AND EVEN ON THE DMZ IN SOUTH KOREA.  THEY
ARE FOCUSED AND PROUD OF THE DIFFERENCE THEY ARE MAKING.  THEY DO IT
NOT FOR GLORY, BUT FOR EACH OTHER, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR COUNTRY.
TO ALL OUR VETERANS -- PAST AND PRESENT -- AND YOUR FAMILIES, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.  THANK YOU FOR MAKING AND KEEPING THAT PROMISE.
WE ARE PROUD OF YOU.

SIGNED:  M. G. MULLEN, ADMIRAL, U.S. NAVY//
BT
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