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MarineParents.com Newsletter
a Place to Connect & Share 
In This Issue
Homecoming Learning Center
Please Visit Our Sponsors
Support a Good Cause: Shop Our New Store!
Sending Holiday Mail to a Marine?
Blogs from Afghanistan
The Gift that Gives Back
Toys for Tots
PHHS takes Marines to Knottsberry
Marines Headed for Afghanistan
Black Friday Special! $5 Off Coupon!
Support for You:
a Place to
Connect & Share™
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Learning Center:
Operational Security
Operational Security

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

Learning Center:
About Deployment
 
 
 
 
 
 
Learning Center:
About Homecoming
 
 
 
 
 
(Tip: While in our store, check in your Marine's unit store for more homecoming shirts!)
Unit Chat Nights
Unit Chat Night Schedule:
 
Monday: 2nd LAR, 2/8, RCT-7
Wednesday: 2/1, 3/4
Thursday: 1/5
 
For additional information about the Chat Room and Unit Chat Nights for your Marine's Unit, please see:
           MarineParents.com Chat Gif 
Local Support Groups in Your Area
NEWEST SUPPORT GROUPS:
 
Birmingham, AL
 
Duncanville, TX
 
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:
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!
Marine Corps Spirit
T-shirts, Gifts & More
Show your Marine Corps spirit and pride!  Proceeds support Marine Parents.
 
 
 
 
 
Marines The Few The Proud
 
Visit Our Sponsors
Sign Up for the Newsletter 
Join Our Mailing List
November 25, 2009
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.
 
It's been a crazy rush around here once again to get our new online store launched in time for this edition of our newsletter.  We're very excited to share it with you (see the article just below this opening note) as we've got tons of new products and. as always, free shipping PLUS your purchase supports the outreach programs of MarineParents.com.
 
We'll have three branches of the service represented at our home for Thanksgiving this year: my father as retired Air Force and two-time Vietnam veteran; my son as former Marine Corps and three-time Iraq veteran, and my son-in-law as former Army.  Though we'll not have anyone in active duty service, I continue to feel the strenth of the military family in our lives, and I am forever and deeply grateful to the men and women who serve for me and my family. 
 
I want to extend a thank you to all of you, whose family members are serving today, whether stateside or overseas, for your sacrifices, and the sacrifices of your loved ones. I am thankful this season, for each of you. God Bless all of you!
 
Be sure to read the Afghanistan Blog in an article just below. The blog is from Marines in the field, today. I hope you enjoy it and can share it with your families this Thanksgiving.
Our New Store: FREE SHIPPING 
Plus Support a Good Cause!
 
We finally did it; after a million suggestions and everyone asking for more product in our corporate store, we've done it. Our new store is now online with over 140 new products added.
 
Our selection is great, our prices are competitive, our shipping is free, and as always, your purchase supports MarineParents.com and the outreach programs for the Marines.
 
We're offering $5 off orders of $50 or more from now through midnight central time on Friday, November 27, 2009. Use Coupon Code BKFRI5.  There's no need to go out to shop on Black Friday; stay in and shop from the comfort of your home and you can still get all the great gifts you need for the Marine Corps enthusiast at your house!
 

Marine Parents New Online Store

Each time you purchase merchandise from Marine Parents, proceeds from your purchase support our outreach services and programs.
 
Marine Parents Outreach Programs 
Sending Holiday Mail to a Marine?
We have "Postal News" to Share
 
Sending Holiday Mail to a Marine?The United States Postal Service issued a Press Release to address "Bringing the Holidays to Military Men and Women."
 
The release contains their recommended mailing dates to APO/FPO addresses to ensure delivery of holiday cards and packages by December 25.
 
For these deadlines and more on sending care packages to your Marine, use the link below. The 2009 Military Mailing Deadlines and a link to the full press release are found at the bottom of the page.
Blogs from Afghanistan
Attention on Deck: The Voice of Our Marines 
  
Blogs from Afghanistan - Attention on Deck: The Voice of Our MarinesA few Marines write about their time in Afghanistan. Read what they had to say below and may their attitude rub off on us all as we approach the Thanksgiving Holiday.
 
"It's difficult to sum up my experience in Afghanistan in just one paragraph. I will do so with as much forthcoming and guilelessness as possible.
 
So far I've experienced sandstorms that seem to rip the flesh from my face, and work its way into my eyes, no matter how tight my goggles may be, blistering heat that somehow brings me back to thanksgiving dinner, when the turkey is lifted from the oven, toilets that won't flush, and much more.
 
I've worked hard during my shift, and slept hard during my down time. All in all though, I've managed to work my way into the inner fabric of history. I feel as though I've contributed to something far greater than myself. And even though I can't wait to go home to my wife and all the comforts I take for granted, I don't regret a minute I've spent in Afghanistan."
-Corporal Jacob
The Gift that Gives Back 
Give a Care Package Sponsorship
 
The Gift that Gives Back: Give a Care Package SponsorshipA perfect gift for anyone on your list!
 
Purchase a gift sponsorship this holiday season, and we'll send a card to your gift recipient letting them know that a care package will be sent on his/her behalf to a Marine in Afghanistan or Iraq.
 
Your gift recipient's name and address will be included in the overseas package to be mailed out January 9, 2010 and the Marine may choose to write back to your gift recipient.
 
Would you prefer to hand-deliver the card to your gift recipient? No problem; we'll send the card to you instead!
 
Recipient gift cards will be sent to the purchaser on the date of transaction, or if you choose the card to be mailed directly to the recipient, the cards will be mailed on December 14.
 
 
Cards for gift sponsorships purchased after December 14 will be sent the day of the transaction. You can purchase gift sponsorships for the January 9, 2010 packing date through January 8, 2010.
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
Two Ways You Can Give for Free 
 
Marine Toys for Tots FoundationThe primary goal of the Toys for Tots Foundation is to deliver - through a new toy at Christmas - a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them into becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.
 
There are two ways you can give to Toys for Tots for free this year!
 
PHHS takes Marines to Knottsberry 
Manager Joyce Shares the Day's Events  
 
Purple Heart Hero Support™ takes Marines to Knottsberry FarmWe had the most incredible day at Knottsberry Farm trying to keep up with our Wounded Warriors.
 
The Marines were ready, the weather was perfect, traffic was good, and we arrived a few minutes before the park opened. There were no lines at any of the rides so they were able to ride them all, some of them twice! 
  
A few people came up to our Marines to shake their hands and thank them for their service - it was hard to hold back tears watching them accept these kind words from strangers. We're so proud of them. 
 
A Marine Mom donated $500 anonymously, so all of their drinks, snacks, dinners, and games were paid for. We had nine Marines, the 2/7 Sgt Major's wife and one of our Gold Star Wives dine with us; it was great! 
 
By the end of the day we were all a little hoarse from laughing and screaming so much. We closed the park down that night; it was a good day for all. 
Please Take Action
Outdated Holiday Email Circulating 
 
Outdated Holiday Email Circulating: Please Take ActionVariations of an e-mail asking readers to send Christmas cards to "A Recovering American Soldier" are currently being circlated.
 
A lot of incorrect information is being sent out about sending a card or letter to these brave men and women.
 
The bad news is that many simply read and send this email without researching it, thinking they are doing something good.
 
The problem is that cards and letters addressed to "A Recovering American Soldier" are returned to sender.

If you receive one of these emails please 'reply to all' and let people know that Walter Reed Army Medical Center and all other military hospitals do NOT accept letters without a full name.
 
Please let them know about Operation PAL™, a unique outreach program through which their cards will reach a recovering Wounded Warrior.
 
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 an October, 2009 USMC Photo by Lance Cpl. M.C. Nerl of a tank speeding up to a breach point during breaching exercises at the Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. 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 6th Conference in New Orleans in April, 2010. 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.
Musical Bottle Opener: Plays the Marine Corps Hymn!
 
 
$5 Off 
Coupon!
Black Friday Special!
 
Receive $5 off any order of $50 or more. Enter coupon code BKFRI5
 
Offer expires at midnight on Friday! 
 
Musical Bottle Opener Plays the Marine Corps Hymn! Just one of many items in our new store!
 
NOTE: All proceeds are used in support of MarineParents.com, Inc., an IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity.

Thank You for supporting Marines and their families by shopping Marine Parents.