<p>Wishing You a Joyous Season</p>
<p>Special from the Chief Of Naval Operations</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (NNS) -- I wish all of you in our Navy the very best this holiday season. Whether it finds you overseas or at home, at sea or ashore, please know that I - and every other American deeply appreciate your service and that of your families during this critical time in our nations history.</p>
<p>We know it is not easy defending our way of life - that it is not easy to work so hard to ensure that so many others may live in freedom. It requires sacrifice and a special determination. It requires teamwork and selflessness. Shoulder-to-shoulder with your counterparts in the joint force, you stand up for liberty, dignity, and tolerance against enemies who stand for nothing but hate, fear, and tyranny. Everything we celebrate during the holidays is everything you represent.</p>
<p>If you are one of the thousands who must spend the season away from your loved ones, please stay safe and focused. If you are fortunate enough to spend the holidays at home with family and friends, please travel safely and take time to appreciate all that family and togetherness truly mean.</p>
<p>Wherever you are, please also take time to remember the values you hold dear, the people you help defend, and the many tables at which - through fate and tragic circumstances - there will be one less place set this year. Your service matters. It is the greatest gift you give a grateful nation. From my family to yours, thank you and happy holidays.</p>
<p>Special message from Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe R. Campa, Jr. </p>
<p>WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Diana and I would like to wish all of you and your families a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. As you celebrate this joyous time please keep in mind that we need every one of you if we are to continue to succeed in the Global War on Terror. Stay safe. Drive safely. Take every precaution on duty and off. Take care of each other and your loved ones.</p>
<p>Ive met so many of you in my brief time in office. And each one of you has left a lasting impression on me. Ive spoken with you in Iraq, Afghanistan, Norfolk, Great Lakes, San Diego, aboard ships at sea and stations ashore. You are members of the greatest Navy ever assembled, and you perform at a level we could have never foreseen just a decade ago.</p>
<p>You are the first line of homeland defense and you are the greatest deterrent to terrorism on the planet. Youre stopping piracy and drug trafficking in the Caribbean and assisting nations in need. You are deckplate warriors and humanitarians. You are the worlds finest Sailors and I couldnt be prouder.</p>
<p>There has never been a fleet as technically proficient, yet so varied in abilities. You are educated and fearless, compassionate and self-sacrificing. Thousands of you will spend this Christmas far from home, in defense of democracy and freedom. To those of you deployed, know that the rest of the Navy and the nation appreciate your dedication on our behalf.</p>
<p>And we appreciate the sacrifices made by the family members at home. Every one of you supporting a Sailor at sea or overseas is a patriot. Your important role in our daily mission cannot be overstated.</p>
<p>Enjoy your holidays, and please stay safe.</p>
<p>Special message from the Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Each year during the holiday season, Americans celebrate the promise of renewal and the possibilities of peace. Your dedicated efforts enable us to enjoy these rich blessings at home, while bringing hope to people throughout the world.</p>
<p>Each of you -- whether on active duty, a member of the reserve component, a civilian, or a family member -- has played an integral part in giving the greatest gifts, gifts of peace, promise, freedom and, in many situations, life itself to countless millions. You have paid for them with your unequaled dedication, selfless sacrifice and boundless energy. Thank you for your unwavering devotion.</p>
<p>Many of you will spend this holiday season far from home, at war, in a hostile environment. Although it is never easy, your sacrifices come at a vital time for our nation. You can be justifiably proud of your steadfast service. Devoting oneself to a life of service is a noble endeavor; your nation and your fellow Americans thank you and are proud of you. Your families equally share the unavoidable burdens of separation and anxiety associated with the profession of arms, and I thank them as well for their dedication and sacrifice.</p>
<p>Wherever you gather to share the spirit of the season with family and friends, stay safe and keep those at sea and on the front lines in your thoughts and prayers. May God grant you and your families continued blessings in the New Year, and may God continue to bless this United States of America.</p>