The Operation Prayers & Letters™ staff has a challenge for you!
Since the inception of this wonderful outreach program, thousands of caring Americans across the United States have sent 97,324 cards and letters to the participants of Operation PAL.
It is our goal to break the 100,000 card and letter threshold by September 1, 2015. If we can average just 750 cards and letters per month (25 per day), we'll make our goal. We know that with your help we can reach this milestone.
This weekend, as you are celebrating Memorial Day weekend with family and friends, take a few minutes to have a card writing activity and let these wounded heroes know you are thinking of them and appreciate their military service and sacrifice. Next month, place a basket of blank note cards, pens, markers, and patriotic stickers in the break room of your workplace and ask your co-workers to participate. Solicit the help of your Book Club members, your Rotary club members, your son's scout troop, or your daughters soccer teammates. Together we can make this goal a reality!
As always, we appreciate your continued support of MarineParents.com and the Operation Prayers & Letters outreach program.
Take good care,
Angie Regan
Volunteer Manager
Operation Prayer and Letters™
MarineParents.com, Inc.
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Card Writer Spotlight:
Creative Cards From Thankful Kids
| Just a few of the handwritten notes. |
We received a packet of wonderful cards and letters made from the awesome students at Evergreen Country Day School in Colorado. Brooke, a student who attends the school, helped organize this letter writing campaign. In her cover letter she wrote, "We all hope these letters help the wounded warriors. We thank all of you for spending the time to give back to all the wounded warriors."
Actually, Brooke, it is you and your fellow students that deserve the thanks! Without caring writers like you and your friends, we would not be able to send packets of cards filled with encouragement and kind words to all the participants in the Operation Prayers and Letters program. Keep writing!
Click Here: * OperationPAL Active Participants * for a current list of participants.
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Participant Highlight:
H2M Anthony 2/7 Fox Company
| Anthony and family pictured at the 2015 Impact A Hero Diamonds & Denim Hall of Fame Gala |
We received a bit of good news from Anthony's wife, Ivonne, regarding something that happened in their lives this month.
The 11th Annual "Impact a Hero" weekend was held this past week in Houston, Texas.
This event brings together severely wounded post 9/11 combat veterans and their family members for a weekend of activities. The event also gives the community an opportunity to show their support and help raise funds to assist the organization to continue to provide the much needed programs to these heroes and their families.
The festivities included a 5K run, walk, and wheel, a golf tournament and the "Hall of Fame" gala dinner. More than 50 wounded heroes and their family members were honored at the gala dinner this year, and we are proud to announce that Anthony was inducted into their hall of fame! This is a much-deserved recognition for Anthony.
We thank you for your service to this great country, Anthony. What an honor it is to know you and your story. Congratulations to you both Ivonne and AJ.
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National Moment of Remembrance
Did You Know that in December 2000, Congress passed a law requiring Americans to pause at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day to remember and honor the fallen?
We encourage everyone to take a moment next Monday and think of those who sacrifice to protect our freedoms and way of life around the world.
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Participant Update: Ryan
A Time to Leave Operation PAL
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Ryan, Kelby & their two energetic dogs.
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I recently received the following letter from Operation PAL participant Ryan's mother, Diane:
Dear Angie,
My son, Ryan, has been receiving your packets of cards and letters for the last few years, and we want to thank you sincerely for them. We have read each and every one and are so appreciative of the outpouring of prayers, support, and words of encouragement. We keep the cards and letters in a large box and occasionally reread them, and we'll always be grateful for the kindness of people we've never met.
It was three years ago today that Ryan was injured in Afghanistan, and two men in his unit were killed. It's a day of reflection for me, and one of abundant gratitude for so many blessings we've received. Ryan is doing very well, and he and his beautiful wife, Kelby, are now living in Texas. He's working part time and preparing to get into graduate school in a year or so. Kelby is also working, and they are enjoying life with their two energetic dogs. I've attached two recent pictures of them :).
We feel that at this stage in Ryan's recovery it's time to stop participating in Operation PAL. We will always remember the joy and gratitude we felt as we read the letters and want to thank everyone who took the time to write and pray for Ryan.
THANK YOU for all that you do for our service members!
Sincerely,
Diane
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Mission Statement & Thank You
The mission of Operation Prayers and Letters™ is to provide support to wounded, ill, and injured troops through prayers and letters written by people in communities throughout the United States.
Thank you so very much for keeping our wounded, ill, and injured service members in your thoughts when you write and pray. Your kindness is most appreciated!
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Most Recent Changes:
Added: None
Removed: Ryan
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Operation Prayer and Letters™ Writer Spotlight:
We welcome photos and stories from all our Operation Prayers and Letters writers. Thank you for all the love, support, and encouragement you send to the wounded, ill, and injured participants! You truly are making a difference.
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Join Their Fight Campaign
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Send Cards and
Letters to:
Marine's Name & Company c/o Operation PAL P.O. Box 758 Columbia, Missouri 65205
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We hope this week's edition of our email newsletter has been useful for you and your family. If there are topics you would like us to address, or if you have other suggestions for the newsletter, please contact us.
MarineParents.com, Inc., is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity. MarineParents.com was founded in January 2003 in response to parents' needs to find information and to have a Place to Connect and Share® with one another during their Marine's career. Our free services and connections have expanded to support and educate Marine moms and dads, spouses, families and friends. We've supported more than 400,000 Marine and recruit families during boot camp, training, active duty and deployments. We've shipped more than 40,000 care packages overseas to our Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan, sent 90,000 prayers and letters to injured Marines and served thousands of meals to wounded, ill, and injured warriors and their families at military treatment facilities on the east and west coasts. You've found a Place to Connect and Share.®
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