July 9, 2015
In This Issue:

Greetings!

Thank you for joining us for this issue of Marine Parents News. If this is your first time receiving the newsletter, welcome aboard, we're excited for you to be here!

You can help our troops beat the heat this summer. Learn more in our first article. 

To see what else is new with the organization or to learn more about the Marine Corps, check out the rest of our articles. We hope you enjoy!

Thank you for joining us and especially for your continued support of our brave men and women in uniform.

Semper Fi Marine Families!





 
 
Tracy Della Vecchia
Founder and Executive Director
MarineParents.com, Inc.

Help Our Troops Beat the Heat This Summer

Summer is hot here in the U.S. It's pushing 90 degrees in some places today. But it's even hotter for American service members deployed to Africa, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and Syria, where summer temperatures regularly surpass 110 degrees. Add combat gear to that equation. You and I can't even imagine what that heat is like, but our combat-deployed service members have to endure it daily.

We'll be packing 300-400 care packages for service members deployed to Africa, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and Syria on Saturday, July 18, and want to include cooling towels and high-electrolyte drink mix tablets for our heroes in each box. Our deployed troops need to know that we're behind them, and we need your help to meet our goal! We need to raise $10,000 for the items we're shipping. Click here to donate using our secured server.

The cooling towels (Frogg Toggs) are specially designed towels that, when wet, begin to evaporate and cool, providing cool, soft comfort to the user and the drink mix tablets help our men and women in uniform replace electrolytes that they lose while on patrol in the heat, helping them stay hydrated, healthy, and alert. Click here to learn more about these products.

We need to meet our goal of $10,000 by July 17 to order the items from the vendors.  That's just over a week away! Please help by making a donation today. If each person opening this email would purchase one towel, OR one 10-tab tube of electrolyte drink mix, OR donate $10 for shipping, we'd meet our goal in just a few days.
Thank you for your donation and for your continued support of our troops in combat zones!

God bless and Semper Fi!
Amy and her brother on his wedding day.
Bidding Farewell to Volunteer Amy

I'd like to take this opportunity to bid a fond farewell to one of our most dedicated, longest-serving volunteers--Amy Fellows. Over the last twelve years, one thing I've learned is that every volunteer is unique, and each has a huge heart, and Amy is no different.

Amy has been a volunteer with Marine Parents since 2009, primarily as an online volunteer, although she was often seen at our Warrior Support Team's dinners at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (back when the program was still Purple Heart Hero Support (PHHS)). She was a regular presence on MFN and anyone who's participated in one of our online chat nights is sure to know Amy, as she was a fixture of our chats.

Major Gen. Joseph L. Osterman, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, takes his position during the MARSOC re-designation ceremony at Stone Bay, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 19, 2015.
(USMC photo by Cpl. Steven Fox)
MARSOC Units Get Raiders Name

Just under three weeks ago, on June 19, 2015, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) held a ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C., to formally rename Marine Corps special operations battalions after their predecessors, the Marine Raiders of the Second World War.

 

During the ceremony, MARSOC momentarily deactivated its eight subordinate units, before immediately reactivating them with new names and battle colors bearing the Raiders' name.

 

The renaming is, at least in part, the result of nearly a decade of advocacy for the change by original Raiders and their families, and the ceremony came 10 months after the renaming was initially announced, during which time Headquarters Marine Corps worked on approving a bulletin to announce the upcoming change.


It's Your Turn to Serve. Help Us Set the Table

Our wounded, ill, and injured warriors have sacrificed so much while serving our nation. Now it's our turn to serve them. Help us set the dinner table to help begin the healing. Make your donation today. Our goal is $12,000 by August 1, 2015 to continue serving meals at military medical facilities June through August this summer.

"A very common thing I've heard over the past few months at the dinners from the wounded guys is that the dinners give them a reason to leave their rooms or homes. Even if they're having a bad day, seeing familiar faces and eating with people they know care about them helps the wounded feel less isolated...Having a meal to count on each week really does make a difference and relieves some stress for the guys. It also gives them the opportunity to sit and interact with other wounded warriors, as opposed to keeping to themselves."
 
-- Paige, Warrior Support Team--West Volunteer and wife of a recovering warrior.

While serving dinners may seem like a small thing, they are loved by the men and women who attend them. The dinners let the recovering warriors know that America remembers them; that their sacrifices are appreciated; that they aren't alone. The relationships formed at these dinner tables can be the starting point for the service member to work with the Warrior Support Team during their upcoming reintegration to a civilian lifestyle. And we need your help to ensure that they continue.


A USMC A4D-2 Skyhawk passing the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea after a wave-off. (U.S. Navy photo)
This Week in Marine Corps History

A-4 Skyhawk is Retired

25 years ago this week, on July 6, 1990,  the last two A-4 Skyhawks from Marine Aircraft Group 32 flew their initial flights from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina to Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, as the Marine Corps decided to retire the Skyhawk from its active aviation structure.
The Skyhawk was one of the oldest, most versatile attack aircraft in USMC history, having been in service for more than 30 years.



U.S. Marine V-22 Ospreys with the 1st MAW arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, May 3, 2015. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mandaline Hatch/Released)
1st Marine Aircraft Wing Activated

74 years ago this week, on July 7 1941, the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW) was activated at Quantico, Virginia. Less than a year later, the 1st MAW participated in the Marine Corps offensive at Guadalcanal.

The bitter fighting at Guadalcanal would be the first in a series of legendary battles in which the 1st MAW has participated in over the years. The Wing has earned five Presidential Unit Citations for gallantry in battles spanning World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.



Commandant Burrows
"An Act for Establishing and Organizing a Marine Corps"


217 years ago this week, on July 11, 1798, "An Act for Establishing and Organizing a Marine Corps" became law after receiving the approval of President John Adams. The next day, the President appointed William Ward Burrows as the Major Commandant of the new Corps. In August of that year, Major Burrows opened his headquarters in Philadelphia, which at that time was still the capital of the United States.



Triple-Amputee Marine Refuses to Let Injuries Slow Him Down

Cpl. Todd Love (USMC photo)

In October of 2010, Marine Corporal Todd Love's life was changed forever when he stepped on an IED while on patrol in Sangin, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The explosion caused Love to lose both of his legs and his left hand, but he refused to let it affect his attitude and has made it his mission to live his life to the fullest. 

 

During his rehabilitation, Love became an extreme sport enthusiast, and has since gone surfing, snowboarding, sky-diving, competed (and completed) numerous Spartan Races and mud-runs, and even wrestled an alligator on a national TV show. He also learned to play the piano trough a music rehabilitation program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

 

"I want to encourage others to uplift those around them," Love has said, "I might not be able to carry anybody physically but I want to return the favor by simply sharing my story to inspire people." 

 

Click here to read more... 

United Hair Lines Supports WST Mentoring Program

Michelle with the ceremonial
grand prize check.
In February, Michelle Erjavac, a stylist at United Hair Lines, a Chicago-area hair salon, held a fundraiser in support of Warrior Support Team's (WST) Mentoring Program, an outreach program of MarineParents.com, Inc. Michelle recorded the event and entered the video in a contest sponsored by Wella Hair Care. Little did she know that, only a few months later, she would be one of two grand prize winners.

On the warm, sunny morning of Monday, June 29, 2015 Michelle and her husband, Tim, traveled from Niles, Illinois to our corporate office in Columbia, Missouri to celebrate the presentation of the $10,000 grand prize. We were excited and grateful to have the opportunity to accept such a wonderful gift that will greatly help wounded and recovering heroes.

Are you from Texas?

For more than 12 years we've been supporting poolee, recruit, and Marine parents and family members. Now we've added Official MarineParents.com Groups on Facebook for parents and family members of Marines, recruits, and poolees. We invite you to come on in and join us in a Place to Connect and Share with other Marine Parents and family members.

Join this Official MarineParents.com Facebook group to connect with other Marine Families in Texas by clicking here...

To see a full list of our Facebook state groups, please click here...


Meet the Team!
TMP Featured Participants: Team Nolin

Team Marine Parents™ (TMP) is a group of individuals, generally parents, family, and friends of Marines, who participate in athletic events nationwide to support our troops.  The mission is to raise funds and awareness of the organization's outreach programs.  Currently, there are over 50 members of Team Marine Parents™ around the country.

This month's TMP featured participants are proud Marine parents from Colorado--Barb and Paul Nolin.

This is the second consecutive year Team Nolin is competing in the Marine Corps Marathon, after raising nearly $3,000 in 2014.  

Team Nolin is raising money in support of The Care Package Project. According to Barb and Paul, "A care package can brighten a Marine's day or week after having been shipped into a combat area. No matter where a Marine is stationed, a care package is a little piece of home, a slice of America reminding them of the love and support people across the country have for our troops."

 

Team Nolin is still working toward their goal of raising $500, but with your support and generosity we know they can get there in no time!


Thanks for being a part of the team, Barb and Paul, and we look forward to seeing you in Washington!


To learn more about Team Nolin, or to donate to their campaign, please click here...
Bibs Are Still Available!

Do you want to run in this year's Marine Corps Marathon (MCM)  but missed your chance to get a bib during this year's MCM registration lottery? Don't worry, Team Marine Parents (TMP) has your back! 


As an official MCM Charity Partner, TMP has bibs available for those who want to run in the marathon, all you have to do is join the team! 

TMP currently has 15 bibs remaining for this year's race. Each bib costs $130 (a $125 registration fee and a $5 processing fee) and runners must pledge to raise at least $500 for a MarineParents.com outreach program of their choice in return for receiving their bib. 

Joining TMP is a great way to get in shape while raising money for a good cause and these bibs won't last long! Don't miss out on your chance to run in the 2015 MCM, join TMP today! 

Do You Know a Federal Employee?
Help Spread the Word!

 

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!
MarineParents.com, Inc. is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity founded on January 21, 2003 to provide support, information, and services to Marines and their family members, and to create opportunities for individuals to support our troops. In over 12 years of service, Marine Parents has made a huge impact in support of Marines, military personnel, and their family members.

Marine family members are encouraged to support one another through activities and networking provided by the organization and guided by trained volunteers. Outreach to injured troops is volunteer-centered with in-person contact. Additional troop-support centered programs are designed to actively engage individuals and communities across the United States while maintaining the privacy of military personnel. All services are offered free to family members, Marines and military personnel.

In 12 years of service, MarineParents.com has:
  • Invested over $6 million delivering direct support to Marines, their families and other military personnel.
  • Provided information and a Place to Connect & Share� to more than 311,000 family members through a network of communities and educational websites.
  • Collected materials and shipped over 39,000 care packages to Marines and military personnel in combat zones.
  • Involved thousands of Americans in sending over 93,000 cards and letters to injured troops.
  • Served over 40,000 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.
Tracy Della Vecchia, Founder and Executive Director, leads the operations from the corporate office in Columbia, Missouri with staff, volunteers, and a volunteer Board of Directors. In addition to the moderated, OPSEC-compliant Marine Family Network (MFN), chat rooms and informative websites, several outreach programs to support Marines and families before, during and after the Marine Corps are provided by the organization. Funding for the programs is through donations, grants, fundraising and store sales. In 2009, the 15-item online store began expansion, eventually becoming the EGA Shop. In 2010, the production facility was established on-site to design and develop custom product, dramatically boosting sales and providing additional funding for the outreach programs. The organization is an official Marine Corps Trademark licensee.

Statistics updated January, 2015. 







Outreach Programs of MarineParents.com, Inc.:


Warrior Support Team

Operation Prayers
and Letters

The Care Package
Project

Gold Star
Family Support

Luminary Initiative
Gold Star Family Day
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