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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! This past weekend saw the end of an era as MarineParents.com's Care Package Project came to a close. 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. |
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The End of an Era--Bidding Farewell to the Care Package Project
 Saturday, July 18, 2015 saw the end of an era as approximately 30 volunteers from Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin joined us at our corporate office in Columbia, MO, to be a part of the Care Package Project's final pack day. The theme for this final pack day was "Help Our Troops Beat the Heat This Summer," and each care package contained high-electrolyte drink tablets and Frogg Togg cooling towels in addition to snacks, toiletries, and letters of support from individuals across America.
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| | Staff Sergeat Zachary Rubart (USMC photo). |
Staff Sergeant Named Marine Corps Times Marine of the Year
Earlier this week, the Marine Corps Times named Staff Sergeant Zachary Rubart it's "Marine of the Year" due to his leadership capabilities, his commitment to improving himself and his Marines, and his long record of service to his community outside of a military capacity.
Rubart, 31, served two combat tours in Fallujah, Iraq, and one to Marjah, Afghanistan. In 2006, during his second deployment to Fallujah, Rubart was wounded, receiving shrapnel to his face, hand, and leg.
In 2013, while serving as a platoon sergeant for the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon in Washington, D.C., Rubart was training on the Marine Barracks Washington parade deck when reports of an active shooter at the Washington Naval Yard came in. Rubart organized a group of Marines into a quick-reaction force and teamed up with Washington D.C. SWAT personnel to clear buildings on the base.
Rubart now serves as the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of the Marine Corps security force at the White House Communications Agency, based out of Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C. It's his job to supervise the approximately 50 Marines who travel with the president for security and support.
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Tennessee Shooting Condolences
One week ago, on Thursday, July 16, four Marines and one Sailor were tragically killed by a gunman in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We would like to take this opportunity to offer our most heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of these fallen American heroes. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten as their memories and legacies live on.
The Marines killed were Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan of Hampden, Massachusetts, Lance Corporal Squire K. Wells of Marietta, Georgia, Staff Sergeant David Wyatt of Russellville, Arkansas, and Sergeant Carson Holmquist of Gantsburg, Wisconsin. The Sailor killed was Petty Officer Randall Smith of Paulding, Ohio.
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| Marines wading ashore on Tinian.
(U.S. Government photo) |
This Week in Marine Corps History
V Amphibious Corps Land on Tinian
Seventy-one years ago this week, on 24 July 1944, t he V Amphibious Corps, a formation of the United States Marine Corps composed of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions, landed on Tinian, in the Mariana Islands during the Marine Corps' Pacific Campaign in World War II.
The following morning, under the command of Major General Harry Schmidt, the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions began a shoulder-to-shoulder sweep of the island. Organized enemy resistance faded within a week, and on August 1, Major General Schmidt declared the island secure.
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Gen. Dunford (USMC photo).
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General Dunford Approved as Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman
Earlier today, July 23, 2015, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved the nomination of Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Now that the nomination has been approved by the committee, the nomination will be voted on by the full Senate.
If confirmed, Dunford will replace Army Gen. Martin Dempsey as Chairman, and will become only the second Marine to serve in this capacity. General Peter Pace, who served as Chairman from October 2005 until September 2007, was the first.
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Are You From New York?
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 New York by clicking here...
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Astrid with her Marine son.
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Meet the Team!
TMP Featured Participants: Astrid Arostegui
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 participant is a proud Marine mother originally from South America who now lives in California--Astrid Arostegui.
When Astrid's son enlisted in the Marines she was worried and began searching for as much information as possible about what to expect during his time in the Corps.
During her search for information, Astrid came across Marine Parents and became an active member in our online community, eventually discovering Team Marine Parents.
When she first began running, it was as a way to get in shape. Over time, however, running has become what Astrid describes as a "way of life." Astrid will be participating in the San Diego Boot Camp Challenge in September and is, "...so grateful...and proud to run in honor of [her] son to support the team."
Astrid is still working toward her goal of raising $500, but with your support and generosity we know she can get there in no time!
Thanks for being a part of the team, Astrid, and good luck in September!
To learn more about Astrid, or to donate to her campaign, please click here...
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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!
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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! |
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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.
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Outreach Programs of MarineParents.com, Inc.:
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Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.
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