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MarineParents.com Newsletter
a Place to Connect & Share™ | |
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Support Our Marines! |
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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™ |
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| Learning Center:
Operations Security |
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NOTE: When communicating online, your Marine's privacy is as important as Operations Security. Please respect YOUR Marine's privacy! |
| Learning Center:
About Deployment |
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(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)
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Learning Center:
About Homecoming |
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(Tip: While in our store, check in your Marine's unit store for more homecoming shirts!) |
| Learning Center:
Bootcamp |
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| Local Support Groups in Your Area |
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NEWEST SUPPORT GOUPS:
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:
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| Marine Corps Spirit
T-shirts, Gifts & More |
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Show your Marine Corps spirit and pride! Proceeds from sales support MarineParents.com, an IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity.
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| Sign Up for the Newsletter |
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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.
This newsletter comes out one day before the 7-year anniversary of 9/11. As I reflect on that day and the seven years since, it still brings tears to my eyes and a very deep sadness to my heart. The lives of our military families have been impacted likely more than any other sector of families in the United States. The never-ending sacrifices made by our Marine Corps families are not overlooked by those in the military community. But all too often, others forget.
On this anniversary, the office staff at MarineParents.com will be attending the Freedom Walk at our State Capital in Jefferson City, Missouri to honor those who died that day, and to honor those who continue to serve and protect our freedom. I hope you will find a way to remember and perhaps a way to remind your friends and neighbors of the sacrifices made by so many. |
| Marine Parents Fundraiser |
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| Show Support When You Send Cards
 Do you send greeting cards, or know someone who does? Or do you find yourself wondering what to say in a daily letter to your recruit? What if you could easily send REAL greeting cards anywhere in the world, with the click of your mouse? Do you think you'd send more cards to people you care about? If you would like to experience sending a REAL card from your computer, delivered by the United States Postal Service, we would like to give you a gift account. Please contact our volunteer, Anita Johnson at soc@marineparents.com or 678-810-0883 to schedule an appointment to open your gift account. Remember, the holidays are coming up and these customizable cards are less than $1; saving you money, time and gas.
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| Operation Unified Hope |
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| Marines Provide Free Medical and Dental
TARAGONJ, Bangladesh - The 25 Marines and sailors, from 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Okinawa, Japan, pass overflowing buses filled with people trying to get somewhere in this sprawling country, where the rice fields seem to go on forever.
The U.S. service members joined with Bangladeshi forces to provide free medical and dental care to those in need in the Rangpur District through Operation Unified Hope.
Unified Hope is designed to further develop cooperation between Bangladeshi and U.S. forces by providing a forum for the two countries to share information and ideas on medical issues.
But beyond military and regional objectives, Unified Hope is about people.
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| Find Your Marine's Unit |
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| Only at MarineParents.com
The UIP (Unit Information Page) is a 1-2 page all-inclusive resource of information for your Marine's specific unit. The page includes unit history and location, USMC contact information and web sites for each unit well as MarineParents.com message board links and chat room schedule for that unit, giving you "a Place to Connect & Share" with other families in your Marine's unit.
This is a free service offered only at MarineParents.com. Search by Unit Name, Specific Category such as Air Wings or Infantry Units, Primary Base Location, or Marine Division.
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| October Events |
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 From San Diego CA to Washington DC
From the Bootcamp Challenge on October 4th in San Diego CA to the Marine Corps Marathon and Marine Corps 10K on October 26th in Washington DC, members of Team Marine Parents™ are gearing up for October events.
They're working hard to get in shape and reach their fundraising goals before their events. Check out their photos and bios online and watch their fundraising progress as their goal meters are updated each week. Click on the event to view a list of team members, then click on a team member's name to view his or her page.
Not a member of Team Marine Parents™ but want to contribute? Donate to the team member of your choice online using our secure server and any major credit card. When completing the form, select the team member's name and your donation will be credited toward their goal.
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| Bootcamp Injuries |
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| MRP: Medical Rehabilitation Platoon
Medical Rehabilitation Platoon, or MRP, is the platoon that recruits are assigned to if they are injured or become ill during recruit training.
Recruits do become ill or may become injured. Your recruit will be given the best medical care available, with doctors and teams of hospital personnel to assure your recruit is well-cared for and getting the medical attention s/he needs. There will be no expense to the recruit for medical procedures or prescriptions. S/he will continue to receive full pay for time spent in MRP.
You may get a short phone call from your recruit if s/he has been assigned to MRP. You'll certainly have additional questions at that time. Your best source for official information about a recruit in MRP, particulary if s/he has just been assigned to MRP, is your son or daughter's recruiter.
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| Preparing For Your Marine's Deployment |
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| MarineParents.com is Here to Help
Our goal is to provide you with information and tools so you can empower yourself to understand what will happen before, during and after your Marine's deployment. In preparation for deployment, we strongly recomend that you read through the entire Deployment Section on the MarineParents.com, Inc. web site. There is a lot to learn, but by reading and learning, you'll be empowered with knowledge and thereby be better prepared to support your Marine during the deployment, and just as important, be better prepared take care of yourself.
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| Chat with an Expert Sept. 24 |
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 Dr. Bridget Cantrell on PTSD
On Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (central time), we invite you to chat online with Dr. Bridget Cantrell, author and expert on homecomings, PTSD, and combat recovery. The chat will be held in the MarineParents.com Chat Room. It is free and open to the public. Dr. Cantrell is co-author of the critically acclaimed Downrange to Iraq and Back, and Once a Warrior: Wired for Life.
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| Preparing for Homecoming? |
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Some Tips to Help with Planning
 Retrograde is the return of deployed Marines, better known as homecoming for our Marine parents, spouses, family and friends. Retrograde includes return from ships (a/k/a floats) as well as in-country deployments (overseas stations).
There are two important things to know about homecoming: 1-) Be flexible with travel planning and 2-) Follow Your Marine's lead.
The Marine Corps WILL NOT publish the return date and travel information for Marines returning from combat zones. The FRO is your primary source for return information. To locate contact information for the FRO, see the article in this newsletter on Unit Information Pages titled "Find Your Marines Unit".
It's important as a parent to know that your son or daughter may have had experiences during deployment that may or may not be able or willing to share with you. Give your Marine the time and space they need to readjust to being home after combat deployments. To learn more about Warrior Transitioning, see the link below on homecoming information for the Workbook by Dr. Cantrell, or chat with her online September 24 (see article in this newsletter).
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| New Travel Coffee Mugs |
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 Ceramic Coffee Mugs Show Your Marine Corps Pride
During the Care Package Event this weekend, I was given an opportunity to test out a new travel coffee mug. I expect amazing things from my coffee mugs. I get distracted easily on busy days, but I still want my coffee to be hot when I get a chance to get back to it.
This beautiful cermic and stainless steel travel mug stood the test and my coffee was kept at a perfect drinking temperature. The mug is durable, very attractive, heavy, and best of all, let's me share my Marine Corps sentiments.
These fantastic mugs sell in our Cafe Press online store for $20.99 plus shipping. Buy a travel mug for yourself and your favorite Marine Corps supporter today, and support the MarineParents.com projects at the same time!
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| My Son, My Hero |
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A New Design For Marine Parents
 Show your support. Let your friends, neighbors and co-workers know your son or daughter is a Marine, and s/he's YOUR HERO! Our T-shirt designs are just the ticket! We have designs for Moms and Dads and we'll be adding more for brothers, sisters, and kids!
Proceeds from sale of items goes to operating costs of MarineParents.com, and IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity.
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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.
The banner used at the top of this newsletter is a September, 2008 USMC Photo by Staff Sgt. Brian J. Griffin of Bangladesh citizens waiting in line to be seen by a joint U.S. and Bangladeshi medical team at the Taragonj Public Health Complex during Operation Unified Hope. 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 the 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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