 This holiday season, whether you're celebrating at home with family or deployed around the world in the field or fleet, I want to thank you. Thank you for what you have accomplished this year. I hope you take a moment to reflect on your personal accomplishments as well as our collective ones within this great Navy Marine Corps team. You've shown the unlimited reach of your warfighting abilities from the mountains of Afghanistan to the waters off the coast of Africa. You've shown your compassion that matches your courage by providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to our partner nations and, most recently, on our own northeast shores after Superstorm Sandy. Our original six frigates set the standard of naval excellence in the War of 1812, and 200 years later, our ships continue to surpass that measure through innovation of the 21st century modern fleet. But it's every sailor and marine serving today, along with the sacrifice and service of their families, who continue to make us the greatest expeditionary fighting force the world has ever known. You stand the watch for the world, and you provide our commander in chief the flexibility to meet the challenges that stretch from our shores to far over the horizon by projecting our strength so that we may keep peace on Earth. So from my family to yours, thank you and happy holidays. Semper Fortis, Semper Fidelis.