For 243 years, United States Marines have set the standard for military excellence, ready to respond at any time, in any place, whenever there is a need.
One hundred years ago, the enemy called them the Devil Dogs for the way they turned the tide at Belleau Wood.
Seventy-five years ago, the shores and jungles of Tarawa shook with the determined charge of United States Marines.
And fifty years ago, Marines like Gunnery Sergeant John Canley imposed order on the chaotic urban battlefield of Hue.
(Every Marine’s journey is different, but we all have one thing in common: the title. Courtesy of the United States Marine Corps and YouTube. Posted Nov 1, 2018.)
It was my honor to meet now Sergeant Major Canley (retired) and to add his name to the Hall of Valor following his receipt of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
It was a reminder of the service and sacrifice of the unbroken line of patriots, from its beginning in the earliest days of the revolution, through the Marines it was my honor to serve alongside, to the warriors who stand watch throughout the globe today.
Polly and I are forever grateful for all that you, your families, and your loved ones do for our nation.
Because of your hard work and dedication, the foundation for restoring readiness and increasing lethality has been set.
But as we enter our 244th year of service, we must now build on that foundation with a committed sense of urgency.
!["You worked hard. Fighting, training, sweating, refining that warrior spirit. Earning that [eagle, globe, and anchor]," Neller says. ”You were there with your friends and the rest of the unit. The sorrow, the joy… all of it became real. Not just lessons and stories from NCOs."](https://americansecuritytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Desert-Marine-Pattern-MARPAT.jpeg)
We are accountable for how and where we invest our time and our resources, and we must understand the readiness and lethality we gain from those investments.
Solve the problems in front of you.
Send solutions up the chain, and empower those you command to do the same.
Ask yourselves and each other how can we accomplish our mission better, faster, and more efficiently.
With your help, I have no doubt we will leverage every resource, leading practice, and efficiency we can find with the professionalism, integrity, and accountability the American people have come to expect from the Corps after 243 years of honor and valor.
Happy Birthday, Marines. God bless you, God bless the United States Marine Corps, and God bless the United States of America. Semper Fi.
– Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer
Editor’s note: As the proud parent of a United States Marine, each of you are in my thoughts and prayers now and always.
May God Bless you, keep you safe, and provide you with everything you need to meet each and every day as it rises.
Thank you for all of your sacrifice, strength and commitment to safeguard our nation.
You have my undying gratitude and admiration.
Respectfully, Tammy Waitt, AST Editorial Director
