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MarineParents.com Newsletter
a Place to Connect & Share 
In This Issue
Deployment Learning Center
Homecoming Learning Center
Bootcamp Learning Center
Marine Corps T-Shirts & Gifts
Please Visit Our Sponsors
Balboa Barbecue
Warrior Care Month
1008 Care Packages Shipped
2008 Marine Corps Birthday
After Bootcamp Graduation
Rally Towels for Graduations
Marine Sings From Experience
Suspending Cell Phone Service
Gifts That Give Back
Christmas Cards
NEW DESIGNS for Wear Red Friday
FREE SHIPPING Coupon Hurry, Expires Nov 7
Support Our Marines!
 
 
Purple Heart Hero Support™ an Outreach Program of Marine Parents.com
 
 
Team Marine Parents, an Outreach Program of Marine Parents.com 
Team Marine Parents™
 
Show your support of our Marines and their families at home! Participate in one of the MarineParents.com Outreach Programs today!  Our Marines need YOU!
Support for You:
a Place to
Connect & Share™
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Learning Center:
Operations Security
Operations Security OPSEC

NOTE: When communicating online, your Marine's privacy is as important as Operations Security. Please respect YOUR Marine's privacy!

Learning Center:
About Deployment
 
 
(from your Marine, with the USMC, and with other families)
 
(tips, tricks and money savers for mailing to YOUR Marine)
 
(bills, taxes, legal issues, injuries, notification from the Marine Corps)
 
 
Learning Center:
About Homecoming
 
 
 
 
 
(Tip: While in our store, check in your Marine's unit store for more homecoming shirts!)
Learning Center:
Bootcamp
 
 
 
 
Local Support Groups in Your Area
NEWEST SUPPORT
GROUPS:
 
Houston, TX 
(Harris)
 
For a list of all support groups in our database or to find one in your area, see:
 
If you are interested in starting a local support group in your area, please visit the "Support Groups" section of our website:
 
Marine Corps Spirit
T-shirts, Gifts & More
Show your Marine Corps spirit and pride!  Proceeds from sales support MarineParents.com, an IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marines The Few The Proud
Visit Our Sponsors
Sign Up for the Newsletter
Join Our Mailing List
November 5, 2008
Dear Marine Families,
 
  If this is the first edition of the MarineParents.com Newsletter you have received, WELCOME! If you are a returning reader we are glad you have joined us.
 
  The tight-knit community of Marine Corps families is firmly built on the foundation of "helping our own". This week's edition of the newsletter highlights the ongoing work of our outreach projects to help Marines stationed overseas as well as stateside Marines recovering from injuries. The volunteers that step up to the plate to make this happen are just like you: the family member of a Marine or recruit ready to "help our own".
Balboa Barbecue Dinner
Purple Heart Hero Support™
 
Marines in IraqThrough Purple Heart Hero Support™, volunteers from MarineParents.com held their first west coast dinner for wounded warriors on Monday, November 3.
 
The crew of volunteers planned meals for 100 military men and women. Actual attendance topped 140 personnel.
 
Purple Heart Hero Support™ has been serving meals to family members at Bethesda Naval Hospital for almost two years, but this was the first venture to the west coast.
 
"I think we not only fed all these heroes, but were able to bring a touch of home to many" said Joyce Orrell, volunteer and manager of the monthly meal program. 
 
Warrior Care Month
Programming on ASY Live
 
ASY LiveCiting Warrior Care as a top priority and a solemn obligation, Secretary Gates designated November 2008 as "Warrior Care Month" to communicate the Department of Defense's commitment to quality care for our Servicemembers and their families. Warrior Care Month is aimed at increasing awareness of programs and resources available to wounded, ill, and injured Servicemembers, their families, and those who care about them.
 
As part of this awareness effort, ASYLIVE is dedicating the next four broadcasts to Service warrior care support programs. ASYLIVE is an online radio show and podcast that broadcasts Thursdays at 1400 (EDT). If you can't listen live, the shows are archived on the site for you to listen or download at anytime. You can access the broadcasts and listen to the show at this link: www.blogtalkradio.com/asylive
 
November Packing Day
Marine Birthday  Boxes On The Way
 
Our November 1, 2008 Care Package packing day was a spectacular success! We had 122 volunteers putting together 1008 boxes for Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. The volunteers started at 8:00 a.m. and had all the boxes packed by 11:30! The volunteers did an amazing job. Every box included birthday wishes collected from supporters around the U.S., a Twinkie Birthday Cake Kit, and the coveted birthday cigar. 
 
Click here to read more...
 

November Packing Day

Four volunteers take a break outside after the packing day.
2008 Marine Corps Birthday
Message From the Commandant
 
ConwayDuring the summer of 1982, in the wake of a presidential directive, Marines went ashore at Beirut, Lebanon. Fifteen months later, on 23 October 1983, extremists struck the first major blow against American forces-starting this long war on terrorism. On that Sunday morning, a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden truck into the headquarters of Battalion Landing Team 1/8, destroying the building and killing 241 Marines and corpsmen.
 
Extremists have attacked our Nation, at home and abroad, numerous times since that fateful day in Beirut. Their aim has always been the same-to kill as many innocent Americans as possible. The attacks of 11 September 2001 changed our Nation forever, and our President has resolved that this Nation will not stand idle while murderous terrorists plan their next strike.
 
After Bootcamp Graduation
New Marines Entitled to 10-Day Leave
 
Bootcamp GraduationThe next phase of training after bootcamp is SOI, or School of Infantry. Your new Marine is entitled to one day of travel, and ten days leave after recruit training. Your new Marine may report to SOI early in order to save leave, if desired.
 
Your Marine should listen, read, pay attention, and ask questions about his/her orders before departing the Recruit Depot. Your Marine will have a copy of his/her orders with them when they leave the Recruit Depot.
 
Your Marine is required to check in no later than 1300 (that's 1:00 p.m.) on the date designated on his/her orders. Your Marine can find these by looking on the signed receiving endorsement on the bottom front paper of his/her orders. Marines are required to report directly to the school if they arrive early; they are NOT to get a hotel room in town.
 
Rally Towels for Graduations!
Rally Towels for GraduationsUnique to MarineParents.com 
We've got the newest items for your recruit's graduation. Our Rally Towels are pefect for waving your support during the moto run on family day! Towels are specific to the graduating battalion's colored guidons. These 100% cotton towles are screenprinted with the Eagle, Globe and Anchor (EGA), Battalion number and MCRD.  
 
We will begin shipping on October 28. The order page includes additional ooh-rah items and wristbands that you'll want to wear during the 3-weeks of bootcamp to show your support and pride!
 
Marine Sings From Experience
Touches Many Through Music
 
Mike CorradoCAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii - 
Many artists have written songs about the emotions service members face in the heat of war, the pain of loss and bonds of friendship, but few have lived through it.
 
Lt. Col. Mike Corrado, a future operations officer with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, sings from experience through his pop-rock-style music and shares the thoughts of his brothers- and sisters-in-arms with the world.

With musical influences such as Edwin McCain, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Sting and the Allman Brothers, Corrado expresses his creativity and individuality.

"I like to take what I like from various musical genres and mix them together," said Corrado.
 
Deployment Issues
Suspending Cell Phone Service
 
cell phoneIn many instances, cell phone providers may ask for a copy of the military orders before allowing a military suspension on accounts and services. See this link for more information:  Orders (Copy of)... 
 
All cell phone providers should offer a military suspension for cell phone service regardless of the contract. Keep in mind, the contract will still be in place, and the Marine will have to re-open the account when he/she returns stateside. Upon return, the contract picks up where it was suspended. For instance, if your Marine was in a 24-month contract, had used 6 months of service prior to deployment, the contract will have an additional 18 months that will be re-instated upon return. If the account is suspended for 8 months, the balance on the contract will still be 18 months rather than 10 months. 
 
Gifts That Give Back 
Christmas Gifts that give back to MarineParents.com Outreach ProjectsMeaningful Christmas Gifts
With the holidays coming up, you'll likely have folks asking you what they can do to support the troops during the holiday season.  I'd like to encourage you to take a look at the outreach programs of Marine Parents and how to promote each during this giving season. 
 
To help the military mail system from being bogged down in December, we send care packages to Marines the first weekend in January.  We need sponsors for The Care Package Project™ to help with the costs involved. Gifting a sponsorship to your family and friends is an outstanding way of sharing the spirit of troop support and assuring that the much needed items are getting to Marines in combat zones.  We'll send your recipient a gift card to let them know a package will be sent to a Marine in their name. Sponsorships are $22 per package.
 
Operation PAL™ is a program that needs your support all year. Sending cards and letters to injured Marines and Sailors is certainly appreciated during the holidays, but we encourage you to support these young men and women by making a commitment to write to them at Christmas, and again each month throughout 2009. If you are a teacher or leader of young people, you have an opportunity to teach the value of support not only during the "giving season" but throughout the year. 
Christmas Cards
Featuring Marine Corps Images 
 
Christmas Cards with Eagle Globe and AnchorIf you're looking for unique Christmas cards this year, be sure to check out the selection available in our online store.   
 
All proceeds from sale of cards go back to MarineParents.com, an IRS approved public charity.
 
 
Support Our Troops: Wear Red on Friday
Wear Red on Friday
 
Join the "Wear Red Friday" campaign to show your support of our troops!  We've opened up a brand new line in our online store--you get the quality and service you've come to expect, and you can help encourage those in your community to "Support Our Troops: Wear Red on Friday!"  We've got yard signs and red t-shirts for every family member and everyone in your office! Check it out today:
 
 
 
We've added a new design. Red shirts with white letters on the front:
"Red Friday...it's a military thing"
 
Remember, all proceeds from sale of products in our stores go to support the organization MarineParents.com, Inc. and our outreach projects. MarineParents.com is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) Public Charity.

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.

The banner used at the top of this newsletter is a September, 2008 USMC Photo by Cpl. Patrick M. Johnson-Campbell of Marines from 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and sailors from USS Iwo Jima as they admire the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean from the flight deck.  Click here to read additional credits.
 
MarineParents.com, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity. MarineParents.com, Inc. was founded in January, 2003 in response to parents' needs to find information and to have a Place to Connect & Share™ with one another during deployments. Our free online services and connections have expanded to support and educate Marine moms & dads, spouses, families and friends and we'll be offering our 5th Conference in San Diego in January, 2009. We've helped over 40,000 Marine and recruit families during bootcamp, training, active duty and deployments. We've shipped thousands of care packages overseas to our Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan, sent thousands of prayers and letters to injured Marines and served hundreds of lunches to families caring for their Marines at Bethesda Hospital. You've found a Place to Connect & Share™. 





God Bless and Semper Fidelis,
 

Tracy Della Vecchia
Founder and Executive Director
MarineParents.com, Inc.
 
Neither the United States Marine Corps nor any other component of the Department of Defense has approved, endorsed, or authorized this service.
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