| Support for You:
a Place to
Connect & Share™ |
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| Learning Center:
Operational Security |
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NOTE: When communicating online, your Marine's privacy is as important as Operational Security. Please respect YOUR Marine's privacy! |
| Learning Center:
About Deployment |
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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!) |
| Unit Chat Nights |
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Unit Chat Night Schedule:
Monday: 1/3
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:
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| Local Support Groups in Your Area |
NEWEST SUPPORT GROUPS:
Orange, CA
Mansfield depot, CT
Chicago, IL
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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Support Our Marines! |
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Team Marine Parents™
Show your support of our Marines and their families!Participate in one of the Marine Parents Outreach Programs today! Our Marines need YOU! |
| Marine Corps Spirit
T-shirts, Gifts & More |
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Show your Marine Corps spirit and pride! Proceeds support Marine Parents.
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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.
The holidays can be a hectic time of year. The extra tasks of preparing for the season and extra long to-do list creates anxiety. When you toss in the worry of deployment or simply that your Marine or recruit will be "alone" for the holidays, it can be overwhelming.
To help avoid the holiday blues, remember to take time for YOU in amongst all the work and worry. Spend time with a friend over a cup of coffee; take a walk during your lunch hour; write in your journal; spend an hour or two on a trail and notice the beautiful changes that winter brings to our surroundings.
Sending care packages during deployment has a healing quality as well. Include small holiday decorations and printed pictures of your holiday preparations at home. Remember, don't just email the photos; send printed copies. Your Marine will appreciate having photos he or she can stowe with personal gear rather than needing a computer to view them.
Remember to take care of YOU this holiday season. God Bless our Marines and troops! |
| The Gift that Gives Back |
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Give a Care Package Sponsorship
 A 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. |
| A Marine at Heart |
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| Family and Friends Spotlight
 Cards and letters written for combat deployed Marines pour into our office from across the country.
The support for our men and women overseas is always touching and at the same time, some letters stand out among the others.
This particular letter was especially heartwarming. We sent the original to a Marine overseas and kept a copy to share with you - our Marine families, friends and supporters.
The author of this letter is a truly unique Marine supporter and his passion for Marines everywhere is sure to move you. Read the one-of-a-kind "Dear Marine" letter today:
DEAR MARINE.
MY NAME IS JOHN, I'M 43 YEARS OLD. I HAVE DOWN SYNDROME. IN MY HEART I'M A MARINE.
MY ROOM IS DONE IN MARINE STUFF
I HAVE A FLAG...
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| Is Your Marine Deployed? |
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| Care Package Project™ and Unit Information
If your Marine is deployed, we have two questions for you:
1 - Have you found your Marine's Unit Information Page?
The UIP (Unit Information Page) includes unit history and location, USMC contact information and web sites for each unit. In addition, the UIP contains Marine Parents message board links and the chat room schedule for that unit, giving you "a Place to Connect & Share" with other Marine families.
Find your Marine's unit. Search by Unit Name, Specific Category such as Air Wings or Infantry Units, Primary Base Location, or Marine Division.
 2 - Have you signed your Marine up to receive a package from The Care Package Project™?
Care packages sent through The Care Package Project™ contain the labor, love and prayers of hundreds of volunteers and donators.
They also contain cards and letters written by children and adults from across the nation. (See the article above for an example.) Support from perfect strangers truly boosts the morale of our deployed Marines.
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| This Saturday, December 12th |
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| Wreaths Across America
 " Remember the fallen; Honor those who serve; Teach our children the value of freedom"
Wreaths Across America is a beautiful project to honor our veterans this and every holiday season.
Wreath-laying ceremonies will be held at locations across the world this Saturday, December 12th, 2009 at 12:00 noon EST.
We encourage you to learn more about this project and, if you're available, participate in a ceremony near you this weekend.
For more information and to find a ceremony location near you, see the link below.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction." - Ronald Reagan |
| Show Support when You Shop |
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At the Marine Parents EGA Store!
We finally did it; after a million suggestions and everyone asking for more product in our store, we've done it. The EGA Store is online now with over 200 new products including an array of brand new scrapbooking items!
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 Marines and their families.
We're offering $5 off orders of $50 or more from now through midnight central time on Saturday, December 12, 2009. Use Coupon Code SCRAP5.
We have Navy merchandise, items for veterans and much more! Take a look today and, as always, thank YOU for shopping The EGA Store! We are sincerely grateful for your support.
Each time you purchase merchandise from Marine Parents, proceeds from your purchase support our outreach services and programs.
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| Trees for Troops |
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| Brightens Holiday Spirits
 Camp Pendleton Marines, sailors and their families received 1,000 free farm-grown Christmas trees at the San Onofre Community Center and the 16 Area Landing Zone.
The event, known as Trees for Troops, was hosted by the Christmas Spirit Foundation and Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Community Services.
Trees for Troops is a program designed to deliver support and festive cheer to service members and their families during the holiday season.
Although the Christmas tree giveaway was the main feature at the event, patrons were also treated to bouncy houses, face painting, lots of gifts and a visit by Santa.
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| Have Questions about PTSD? |
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| Chat with Dr. Bridget Cantrell
 Dr. Cantrell will hold this month's chat night on December 16th, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (central time).
We invite you to join and chat online with Dr. Bridget Cantrell, author and expert on homecomings, PTSD, and combat recovery. The chat will be held in the Marine Parents Chat Room. It is free and open to the public.
Dr. Cantrell offers a wealth of knowledge and experience. Take advantage of this amazing opportunity to learn how YOU can spot the symptoms of PTSD in your Marine.
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