The holiday spirit is alive in Africa! The trees are up and decorated with everything from traditional ornaments to college football trinkets. Holiday music is playing and brightly-colored lights shine from the Containerized Living Units where many of our people live.

Though it's not the same as sharing the holidays with our families, we know that here in Africa we are sharing this special time with our shipmates and partners from African nations and from around the world. We are sharing our time and talents with the people of Eastern Africa, giving them the gift of hope for a better, more secure future.

As we work with our partners to build their capacity to provide for their own security, we are also making our country and our families more secure back home. We see it as the gift of freedom for everyone.

Peace and hope are what the holidays are all about. As we celebrate this season, I thank all of you for your tremendous support.

Happy Holidays!