This Sunday, September 28, is Gold Star Family Day and in honor and recognition of the losses and sacrifices the families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty have faced, we would like to encourage groups and individuals around the country to mark this occasion by lighting a luminary at dusk in remembrance of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. 

 

Click here to sign the pledge today... 

 

In the spirit of giving back to others, we invite you to support us this year as we join in the world's largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), and help us give back to the Marines who sacrifice so much on our behalf. 

 

The CFC is comprised of almost 200 charity campaigns throughout the country and overseas. All Federal civilian, postal, and military employees have an opportunity to choose from the CFC charities and pledge donations to the cause/s that matter most to them. In 2013 Federal employees contributed over $200 million dollars to CFC charities. While not all of you are Federal employees, each and every one of you can help this campaign succeed!

 

 Click here to learn how you can help today!

Marine Parents is proud to sponsor the Columbia, Missouri showing of "Remembering Our Fallen," a poignant, emotional tribute to the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of America. "Remembering Our Fallen" exhibits travel around numerous states, showing photographs of each of the service members from that state who have lost their lives in battle since 2001, including more than 140 from Missouri.

This is the second consecutive year that Marine Parents has sponsored this exhibit, scheduled to coincide with our Gold Star Luminary Initiative, an annual event held on the last Sunday in September, known as Gold Star Family Day, to honor and recognize the loss and sacrifice of Gold Star Families .

To learn more about "Remembering Our Fallen," please click here.

To learn more about the exhibit being sponsored by Marine Parents in Columbia, Missouri from September 22 until October 5, please click here.

The United States Marine Corps celebrates its birthday on November 10, 1775, the day the Second Continental Congress passed the Continental Marine Act of 1775 ordering, "That two battalions of Marines be raised...". The Marine Corps' birthday is a day of pride and respect, and its celebration is one of the most revered traditions in the Corps. Each year on November 10th, Marines around the world celebrate what they see as their "second" birthday, the day the United States Marine Corps was born.

Click here to learn more...

By our estimates, over half of the servicemembers who have served in combat since 9/11 now have or will have critical health needs as a direct result of being deployed to a combat zone. While the statistics are alarming, the aftermath of war and health battles being waged upon return have remained the same for generations.

 

With that in mind, we need YOU to help us raise $78,000 to provide 500 Warrior Reintegration Bags to wounded, ill, and injured service members in rural areas and others in need.

 

Click here to learn more... 

The Marine Corps' birthday, November 10, is an important event that all Marines celebrate as their own "second" birthday, and each year, in honor of this special day, we assemble and ship birthday-themed care packages for deployed Marines.

This year, we will be packing 300 "Birthday Boxes" on our November 1, 2014 packing day at the Marine Parents corporate office in Columbia, MO and we need YOU to write "Happy Birthday" cards to Marines to include in these Birthday Boxes.

Click here to learn more...

Legendary music artist and long-time troop supporter, Charlie Daniels, performed a concert on August 15, 2014 in Boonville, Missouri. Marine Parents staff were thrilled to be able to provide tickets for the show to veterans of multiple eras-from World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Click here to learn more...

Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for Lisa Anderson to be on the cover of Runner's World magazine! As many of you may have read in our August 14 edition of Marine Parents News, Gold Star Mother Lisa Anderson, who began running 10 years ago to help with the grieving process after her son was KIA in Iraq, was recently entered in a contest to be featured on the magazine's cover. The voting period for the contest has ended and the votes are now being tallied. We'll make sure to keep the updates coming as we have more information to share!

Click here to learn more about Lisa...

This issue's TMP featured participants are a proud Marine Dad from Connecticut, Kurt Berky, and a proud Marine mom from North Dakota, Sonia Brownotter.

Kurt is a returning TMP member, having also run for the team last year, and is running in support of the Warrior Support Team. He ran the Lake Placid, NY, Iron Man race in late July and will be running in next month's Marine Corps Marathon. So far, Kurt has only raised $230 of his $500 goal, but with your generous donations, we know he can reach it in no time! 

To learn more about Kurt, or to donate to his campaign, please click here...

In addition to being a proud Marine mom, Sonia is also a Marine wife. Her son graduated boot camp earlier this year and she has been married to her Marine husband, Brady, for more than two decades. When her son left for boot camp, Sonia used running as an outlet and a time to think and pray. Sonia will be running in support of Team Marine Parents in next month's Marine Corps Marathon. She's already surpassed her $500 goal, but will gladly accept more generous contributions on her behalf.

To learn more about Sonia, or to donate to her campaign, please click here...

Our booth at the fair.

On September 6, Marine Parents was honored to attend a veterans' resource fair hosted by the VA St. Louis Health Care System at the America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Roughly 2,500 were in attendance to browse the 100 booths that were set up to provide information on a variety of resources and services, including, but not limited to, employment & training services, veterans' benefits, and legal assistance, to military veterans.

Marine Parents used this opportunity to provide veterans in the St. Louis area with about the Warrior Support Team, our Warrior Reintegration Bags, and to invite people to our Gold Star Family Day ceremony in Columbia, MO, on Sunday, September 28.

Photo by Cpl. Dan Hosack

Marine Corps mascot Chesty XIV was promoted to Corporal at the end of last month in a ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. The ceremony, which took place August 29, was overseen by Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Michael Barrett and Commandant Gen. James Amos.

The "Ooh Rah" spirit of the Marine Corps is awaiting you in Washington, DC the weekend of the Marine Corps Marathon, October 23-26, 2014. If you've always wanted to visit DC, then this is the weekend to do it!

We need volunteers to assist at the expo booth Thursday, Friday and Saturday as well as staff our charity tent on Sunday. Come join the fun and help us out!

Click here to sign up today!

• Invested over $2 million delivering direct support to Marines, their families and other military personnel.
• Provided information and a Place to Connect & Share® to more than 250,000 family members through a network of communities and educational websites.
• Processed over 1200 support requests each week from recruit and Marine family members.
• Collected materials and shipped over 38,000 care packages to Marines and military personnel in combat zones.
• Involved thousands of Americans in sending over 87,000 cards and letters to injured troops.
• Served over 35,000 meals to injured troops and their families at military medical facilities on the east and west coasts.
• Planned and carried out recreational events for hundreds of injured troops and their families.
• Delivered materials and resources to aid in the recovery process to hundreds of family members of injured troops.
• Provided support and networking to hundreds of Gold Star families.

Outreach Programs of MarineParents.com, Inc.:

STAY CONNECTED