Happy birthday!

Each year, we all observe the passing of another portion of our lives. Sometimes, we can look in the mirror and wonder what had happened to our youthful vigour or possibly wonder what had happened to all our hair. Others might age a bit more gracefully and actually look forward to the progression of time and what it might mean to them in their specific situations. Still others might be anxiously waiting for the moment they turn 18 so that they can vote. Others possibly look towards 21, when they reach their majority. A few others anxiously await 25, when they can rent a car without any hassle. Whichever way you observe each passing year, please cherish what has been accomplished, and then begin to focus on your vision for what to achieve in the year ahead.

During this past summer, I was visiting New England and was able to spend a bit of time catching up with my sisters and parents. While there, I read an interesting article from a local newspaper. It was interesting because, in fact, it was providing a few snippets of history regarding the Navy Birthday and some of the controversy that still surrounds the date chosen as the "official" Navy Birthday.

A lot of the controversy influencing the debate is actually related to the actions of the various colonial legislatures that had issued letters of marquee prior to the adoption by the Continental Congress of any general conventions regarding a naval force. Additionally, there were even a few voices cited, which highlighted the Continental Army's association with the birth of the Navy by independently putting soldiers to sea (or into Lake Champlain) to fend off British invasion forces or capture supply conveys.

In any event, our Navy officially adopted the date that is now observed as the Navy Birthday due to the fact that this date commemorated when George Washington had announced he had taken command of three schooners and placed them under Continental authority. Since this act had taken place to intercept British supplies on their way to sustain their troops in Boston, the Congress seemed confident to authorize the commissioning of additional vessels under their authority for the same purpose. What this ragtag force was able to accomplish against the superior enemy forces of the time was truly remarkable and worthy to be celebrated.

On 13 October 2011, we observe the 236th Anniversary of the founding of the US Navy. Our Navy is a little bit older (but still the same shade of haze gray). Despite its age, our Navy maintains its place as the greatest in the world and still positions itself to adapt to an everychanging mission requirement. Bravo Zulu!

As another year passes, we should also reflect on what the Association of the United States Navy has accomplished and hopes to achieve in the very near future. We have transformed, rebranded, and repositioned ourselves to reflect better the needs of all its constituency groups. It provides advocacy for those issues that are most important to the needs of the Navy, its personnel and their families. It supports a strong Total Force and works toward bridging the gap between the Active Component and the Reserve Component as well as between officer and enlisted.

Please join me in observing the birthday of our Navy, reflecting on all that it has achieved during these past 236 years, and become an integral part of helping the US Navy accomplish its missions in the years to come through your involvement in AUSN. I anticipate seeing much more growth, development, and transformation in the years ahead.