R 192339Z DEC 18
FM SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
TO ALDODACT
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF COMMUNICATIONS WASHINGTON DC
BT
UNCLAS
SUBJ/HOLIDAY MESSAGE 2018
ALDODACT 26/18
ADDRESSEES PASS TO ALL SUBORDINATE COMMANDS
1. WE IN THE U.S. MILITARY ARE PRIVILEGED TO DEFEND AMERICA, ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, FOR WE ENSURE OUR FELLOW AMERICANS CELEBRATE THIS SEASON OF HOPE IN PEACE AND SAFETY.
2. WE KNOW OUR FREEDOMS ARE NOT GUARANTEED BY THEMSELVES; THEY NEED DEFENDERS.
3. THIS MONTH, MANY IN OUR MILITARY WILL BE SERVING FAR FROM THEIR LOVED ONES. IT IS DIFFICULT WORK, BUT THIS IS NOTHING NEW: SINCE WASHINGTON CROSSED THE DELAWARE ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN 1776, AMERICAN TROOPS HAVE MISSED HOLIDAYS TO DEFEND OUR CITIZENS’ EXPERIMENT IN DEMOCRACY.
4. TO THOSE IN THE FIELD OR AT SEA, “KEEPING WATCH BY NIGHT” THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, YOU SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT YOU CARRY ON THE PROUD LEGACY OF THOSE WHO STOOD THE WATCH IN DECADES PAST. IN THIS WORLD AWASH IN CHANGE, YOU HOLD THE LINE.
5. STORM CLOUDS LOOM, YET BECAUSE OF YOU YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS LIVE SAFE AT HOME. MOST DON’T KNOW YOUR NAMES BUT ALL ARE CONFIDENT THEIR FREEDOMS AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL BE KEPT SAFE.
6. FAR FROM HOME, YOU HAVE EARNED THE GRATITUDE AND RESPECT OF YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AND IT REMAINS MY GREAT PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU.
7. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND MAY GOD HOLD YOU SAFE.
RELEASED BY: CAPT HALLOCK MOHLER JR., DOD EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
BT
Station HYPO 
24 December 2018 at 12:05
Merry Christmas and Happiest of holidays to our men and women serving this great country of ours. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your service! Blessings to all!
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24 December 2018 at 12:08
Merry Christmas and Happiest of Holidays to our men and women serving this great country of ours. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for your service. Blessings to all! …a Navy Brat
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24 December 2018 at 22:29
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to every man and woman serving in the Armed Forces of the United States of America! Mere words cannot begin to explain the level of respect, awe and appreciation my wife and I hold for all of the members of America’s military services. We wish every one of you our very best wishes and our most sincere thanks. As all of us know, serving in the military in support roles or whatever it is now called, are the dependents of those actually wearing the uniform. We respect, appreciate and thank these family members, too. We salute all of you service members and your families, and Mario, too, for all that you do and all that you stand for and for circulating the SecDef’s 2018 Holiday Message. . . another Navy Brat and former white hat, Andy McKane from Springville, Utah.
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