National Day of Prayer 2012 and 2013 (USMC)

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

All records concerning the 2012 and 2013 observances of the national day of prayer by the USMC. You may limit the records to those centralized such as those held by a central chaplain’s office and records from a central office or authority concerning the observance of the national day of prayer throughout the USMC facilities such as guidance to each location or chaplain on how to conduct services or other means of observing the national day of prayer in 2012 and 2013.

I authorize fees up to $25. If fees are expected to surpass this amount, please let me know before incurring them to allow me an opportunity to agree to higher fees or to narrow my request.

Although I make requests in various capacities, this particular request is being made as a news media requester.

I have a track record of being able to take raw materials released under the FOIA and turning them into a unique work using my editorial skills. For a related example, please see the following articles:

A short history lesson for Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates: http://www.witnessesuntome.com/2010/12/a-short-history-lesson-for-secretary-of-defense-robert-gates/
US Pentagon Sponsors Muslim Evangelism: http://www.witnessesuntome.com/2011/06/us-pentagon-sponsors-muslim-evangelism/

Witnesses Unto Me will be publishing the work created based on the results of this FOIA requests. My numerous works published with Witnesses Unto Me demonstrates my ability to distribute my work to an audience made up of the general public.

The material requested is of current interest to the public. This can be demonstrated by the media attention which this issue has received. A Google search for “National Day of Prayer” searching only news media outlets using Google News Search, yields over 48,000 results. Clearly, the public is interested in all facets of the National Day of Prayer and its observance.

Just as a major newspaper would contain editorials, funny pages, and advertisements alongside of the news, Witnesses Unto Me also publishes a variety of types of material. Similarly, writers whom are published in major newspapers are considered news media for the purposes of FOIA, this request should also be billed as a news media request. Again, the responsive records will be turned into a unique work product using my editorial skills and published as a news piece on Witnesses Unto Me.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,
Jason Smathers