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Why We Celebrate

Chief of Naval Operations 

Battle of Midway Day Proclamation
June 4, 2019 

A proclamation by the United States Navy’s Chief of Naval Operations

Whereas, the United States Navy recognizes the great significance of the Battle of Midway as one of the greatest victories in its history and in that of our great nation;

Whereas, the Sailors of the United States Navy take great pride in their service to our country, and now take time to acknowledge their forebears who set the standards of service and sacrifice that form the hallmarks of our rich naval history and heritage;

Whereas, we set forth resolutely to preserve and celebrate the legacy of the Battle of Midway's many heroes and their invaluable contributions to the Navy and our nation;

Whereas, we use the model of determination, zeal, and valor from our past to meet the challenges of the future;

Now, therefore, I, John M. Richardson, Chief of Naval Operations, by virtue of the authority vested in me do hereby proclaim this fourth day of June, two thousand nineteen, Battle of Midway commemoration day, and call upon all Sailors to take part in ceremonies and remember those who have led the way through their bravery and who have sacrificed to make ours the world's greatest Navy.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of June, two thousand nineteen, the two-hundred and forty-third year of independence of the United States of America. 

J.M. Richardson
Admiral, U.S. Navy 

 

Click to download original proclamation (pdf).  

 

 

“OUR NAVY'S HISTORY IS REPLETE WITH ACTS OF HONOR, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT WHERE SAILORS HAVE DONE THEIR DUTY TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY AND ITS CITIZENS. THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF SACRIFICE, SERVICE BEFORE SELF AND A FITTING VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH TO HONOR ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED TO OUR NAVY'S PROUD HERITAGE.”

—NAVADMIN 068/00, 23 March 2000 

NAVADMIN 068/00 provided information for the first formal Battle of Midway commemoration in June 2000. NAVADMIN 164/99 was released 4 June 1999 and formally established the U.S. Navy's commemoration of the Battle of Midway.

Previous NAVADMIN Battle of Midway Commemoration Planning Orders can be found in Archived Content.  

NAVADMIN 068/00

ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
ROUTINE
R 232323Z MAR 00 ZYB MIN PSN 327982J31
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N09//
TO NAVADMIN
UNCLAS //N00000//
NAVADMIN 068/00
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO N09//
SUBJ/BATTLE OF MIDWAY COMMEMORATION//

RMKS/1. LAST YEAR CNO OUTLINED HIS GOAL FOR PRESERVING AND BUILDING UPON OUR RICH NAVAL HERITAGE AND ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO CELEBRATE ANNUALLY THE TWO MOST PROMINENT DAYS OF OUR NAVY'S PAST, OUR BIRTHDAY, 13 OCTOBER 1775, AND THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY, 4 JUNE 1942. THIS NAVADMIN PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS YEAR'S MIDWAY COMMEMORATION.

2. THE COURAGE, SACRIFICE, HEROISM AND TEAMWORK OF EVERY SAILOR IN THAT PIVOTAL BATTLE FOR THE PACIFIC DURING WORLD WAR II WARRANTS OUR STUDY, EMULATION AND REVERENCE. ALTHOUGH WE CAN IDENTIFY EQUAL ACTS OF SELFLESSNESS AND BRAVERY THROUGHOUT OUR 224 YEAR HISTORY, MIDWAY IS UNIQUE IN THAT ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE COURAGEOUS SAILORS WHO FOUGHT THERE, RESTED THE FATE OF THE PACIFIC AND POSSIBLY THE WORLD. THEIR VICTORY WAS ACHIEVED THROUGH A SYNERGY OF EFFORTS WHICH INCLUDED THE BREAKING OF THE ENEMY'S CODE, THE UNTIRING EFFORTS OF THOSE WHO HELPED SUSTAIN OUR FORCES, AND THE SAILORS AT THE TIP OF THE SPEAR WHO DEFEATED VASTLY SUPERIOR ENEMY FORCES. THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY EPITOMIZES THE WARFIGHTING SPIRIT THAT ON A DAILY BASIS WE STRIVETO DEMONSTRATE IN THE ADRIATIC AND OFF THE COAST OF IRAQ.

3. THIS JUNE WE WILL MARK THE FIRST BATTLE OF MIDWAY COMMEMORATION WHERE WE WILL HOLD EVENTS TO HONOR THE NAVY OF YESTERDAY AND THE SAILORS WHO LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR NAVY'S GREATNESS TODAY. COMMANDERS, COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMMEMORATE THE ANNIVERSARY AS DESIRED AND AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR COMMAND WITH EVENTS SUCH AS TOURS, COMMEMORATION CEREMONIES, COMMAND FUNCTIONS, A DINING IN ORDINING OUT TO INCLUDE SPOUSES, VETERANS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. EVENTS THAT INFORM AND EDUCATE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL AUDIENCES AND PROMOTE COMMAND AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS ARE ENCOURAGED.

4. MIDWAY NIGHT 2000 WILL CENTER AROUND 4 JUNE 2000, THE 58TH ANNIVERSARY OF COMMENCEMENT OF THE BATTLE. COMMANDS SHOULD HOLD EVENTS EITHER ON 4 JUNE 2000 OR AS CLOSE TO THE DATE AS FEASIBLE BASED ON OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND LOCAL FACTORS THAT WOULD FACILITATE MAXIMUM ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION. THE NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER HAS ADDED A MIDWAY NIGHT INFORMATION PAGE TO THEIR WEBSITE (WWW.HISTORY.NAVY.MIL). THIS SITE INCLUDES BATTLE OF MIDWAY GENERAL INFO, REGIONAL POINTS OF CONTACT AND INFO ON MIDWAY VETERANS GROUPS.A SAMPLE AGENDA FOR A "MIDWAY NIGHT" DINING IN EVENT WILL BE POSTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

5. OUR NAVY'S HISTORY IS REPLETE WITH ACTS OF HONOR, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT WHERE SAILORS HAVE DONE THEIR DUTY TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY AND ITS CITIZENS. THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF SACRIFICE, SERVICE BEFORE SELF AND A FITTING VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH TO HONOR ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED TO OUR NAVY'S PROUD HERITAGE. I LOOK FORWARD TO COMMEMORATING THIS SPECIAL OCCASION WITH YOU, THE FINEST SAILORS IN THE WORLD.

6. RELEASED BY ADM D. L. PILLING, VCNO.//

BT

 

NAVADMIN 164/99

ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
ROUTINE
R 041653Z JUN 99 ZYB MIN PSN 165196J28
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N00//
TO NAVADMIN
UNCLAS //N00000//
NAVADMIN 164/99
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO N00//
SUBJ/NAVY HERITAGE//

RMKS/1. IT IS ONE OF MY GOALS TO HELP PRESERVE OUR RICH NAVAL HERITAGE AND TO BUILD UPON IT. ONE OF THE WAYS TO DO THAT IS TO CELEBRATE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND DATES. PART OF THAT IS TO ALSO HONOR THOSE WHO SERVED SO PROUDLY AND GAVE SO MUCH TO MAKE OUR NAVY WHAT IT IS TODAY. AFTER CONSIDERABLE DELIBERATION, IT IS APPARENT THAT THE TWO MOST SIGNIFICANT DATES IN OUR NAVAL HISTORY ARE 13 OCTOBER 1775, THE BIRTH OF OUR NAVY, AND 4 JUNE 1942, THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY.

2. THESE TWO PROMINENT DAYS WILL HENCEFORTH BE CELEBRATED ANNUALLY AS THE CENTERPIECES OF OUR HERITAGE. DURING THE WEEK OF 13 OCTOBER, ALL COMMANDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN BIRTHDAY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BIRTHDAY BALLS AND HISTORICAL SEMINARS TO CELEBRATE THE ORIGIN OF OUR SERVICE. ADDITIONALLY, BEGINNING 4 JUNE 2000, THE 58TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY, WE WILL INAUGURATE ANNUAL ACTIVITIES COMMEMORATING ONE OF THE MOST DECISIVE SEA BATTLES IN WORLD HISTORY. MIDWAY WAS WON, NOT BY SUPERIOR NUMBERS OR DAUNTING TECHNOLOGY, BUT BY THE COURAGE AND TENACITY OF SAILORS WHO FOUGHT A VICIOUS AIR AND SEA BATTLE AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS. THEIR VICTORY HELPED WIN US THE WORLD WE HAVE TODAY, AND IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT WE REMEMBER IT AND THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN IT. WHILE MOST COMMANDS WILL CELEBRATE 4 JUNE 2000 WITH A DINING IN, COMMANDERS/COMMANDING OFFICERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO EXPAND THE EVENT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS/COMMANDS AS DESIRED.

3. TWICE A YEAR, WE WILL PAUSE AS A NAVY, TO REFLECT UPON OUR PROUD HERITAGE AND TO BUILD IN ALL HANDS A RENEWED AWARENESS OF OUR TRADITION AND HISTORY. THROUGH SUCH REFLECTION, WE WILL HELP DEFINE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR SERVICE TODAY IN DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY'S FREEDOM. WE ARE THE CARETAKERS OF A TORCH PASSED ON BY NEARLY TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF NAVAL HEROES. EACH OF US WILL BE ENRICHED BY HONORING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS. I BELIEVE IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT WE TAKE TIME TO PAUSE AND REFLECT FORMALLY UPON OUR PROUD NAVAL HERITAGE.

4. RELEASED BY ADM JAY L. JOHNSON, CNO.//

BT

Published: Fri Feb 25 10:22:33 EST 2022