Bridget C. Cantrell, Ph.D., author of the acclaimed PTSD Book "Downrange to Iraq and Back" will participate in the second online discussion group sponsored by MarineParents.com, Inc. in the evening on Wednesday, October 18, 2006.

The topic of discussion for this online group is post traumatic stress disorder, PTSD. Military personnel and spouses or family members who would like to learn more about PTSD are invited to attend. The format for the discussion group will be a structured online chat. Participants will be invited to ask questions as well as talk one-on-one with Dr. Cantrell.

This year, 46-year-old Kim Neely is joined by 20-year- old Corporal Neil Schalk, USMC, a purple heart recipient from Wisconsin, and Stephanie Valle, a Marine Fiancee, as Team Marine Parents™ for the October 29, 2006 Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. Kim has set her goal of raising $22,000 for The Care Package Project™. "When I found out there are Marines who aren't getting letters or packages, I knew that would be my motivator. I want to let them know that we support them."

Though Kim, Neil and Stephanie will meet for the first time in Washington, DC, the three hope to raise the $22,000 necessary for shipping 1000 care packages to the Marines.

We've in the process of developing a new section of the web site for Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island. At this time, we've got some new photos to share with you as well as information about family day and graduation.

With a new rotation of units having arrived in Iraq in the last few weeks, it's a good time to share this page of the web site with our new families. The "Units Deployed" page includes a list of units that are currently deployed to Iraq WITH a link to the message board community and Unit Information Page for each of them.

If you are not familiar with this page and the message board community for YOUR Marine's unit, please take a look. You'll find some helpful information as well as being able to join with other families from the same unit whose Marines are deployed with YOUR Marine. The message board communities are a great way to share the emotional roller coaster of deployment with other families who understand what you're going through.

Operation PAL™: Prayers and Letters is a new project started by MarineParents.com, Inc. in support of our active duty Marines who have been injured or become ill while in combat or upon return from combat. Our goal is to provide support to injured Marines in the form of Prayers and Letters. We try to reach 100 cards sent to each Marine that is on our Operation PAL™ list.

We've added several new Marines to Operation PAL™ over the last two weeks. Please take a moment to review the list of names and send a prayer and a card to each of these young Marines.

The USMC web site is a fantastic resource for photos and a great place for you to try to "sneak a peak" of your Marine's unit or battalion. If you haven't been checking out the Marine Corps web site lately, then take a look. New photos are uploaded daily and you just MIGHT catch a photo of YOUR Marine in action!

All proceeds from sale of items go to support the MarineParents.com web site and projects. MarineParents.com, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity.

Marine Corps Christmas Cards are available this year. Remember, all proceeds go back to supporting MarineParents.com and the many projects we work on throughout the year. Click here for Christmas Card Designs.