DoD Observance of National Native American Heritage Month/November 2004

1. PUBLIC LAW 101-343 ESTABLISHES THE MONTH OF
NOVEMBER AS NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.  
2. WHILE NATIVE AMERICANS COMPRISE A SMALL SEGMENT OF THE 
OVERALL POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF OUR NATION HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT. 
HISTORY IS REPLETE WITH EXAMPLES OF NATIVE AMERICANS WHO HAVE
SACRIFICED FOR OUR COUNTRY AND HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR 
VALOROUS CONDUCT IN BATTLE.  DURING THE TWENTIETH CENTURY FIVE
NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE RECEIVED THE MEDAL OF HONOR FOR THEIR
GALLANT ACTIONS AND TODAY STAND AS A TESTAMENT TO NATIVE 
AMERICANS' HONOR AND COURAGE IN DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY.  THEIR
ACTIONS CONSTANTLY REMIND US OF THE SACRAFICES NATIVE AMERICANS
HAVE MADE FOR OUR NATION.  TODAY NATIVE AMERICANS SERVING IN 
THE MARINE CORPS CONTINUE THE PROUD TRADITION OF SERVICE TO 
THEIR COUNTRY WITH THE SAME CORE VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE AND
COMMITMENT OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE PAST.
3. COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND 
DEDICATED SERVICE OF NATIVE AMERICANS, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT, 
TO OUR COUNTRY AND OUR CORPS.  PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL COMMUNITY
PROGRAMS IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED.