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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
Valentine's Day Designs
Mail Call During Bootcamp
Semper Family Ready-To-Wear
Filing Taxes and Combat Deployment
Our New Commander in Chief
Dinner for Wounded
The Effects of Multiple Troop Deployments
Major General Stone Speaking
Free Airfare to TAPS in May
Email Spam Filters
Peanut Butter Recall and Care Packages
2009 National Conference
Bulldog Naming Contest
Wear Red Friday
$5 Coupon Hurry, Expires Feb 3!
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
 
 
 
 
Unit Chat Nights 

Unit Chat Night Schedule:

Sunday: 1/4 
2nd & 4th Sunday: deployed MAWS      Monday: 2/5, 2/6 and 26th MEU, 15th MEU
Wednesday: 2/1, 3/8, 2/9
Thursday: 1/3, 1st LAR, 1/12
Friday: 1/1, 13th MEU

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:
 
Jefferson City, MO
(Cole, Moniteau, Saline, Howard, Miller, Callaway)  
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
Contest: Name Our Bulldog
Our new bulldog mascot needs a name and we'd like you to name him!  All submissions must be received by February 9. We'll then vote from the top three submissions. Winner will receive a Bulldog T-shirt of your choice from Marine Parents!
 
For more information and how to submit your entry, CLICK HERE.
 
 Name the Bulldog Context
To view designs and merchandise, CLICK HERE.
January 28, 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.
 
  There are two events to mark your calendars; for folks in the Atlanta area, Friday, January 30 Major General Stone will be speaking at Southern Polytechnic State University. Family members and Marines are invited to attend at no cost. Parking passes are available online. Scroll below to read more.
 
  Planning for the 2009 Annual National Marine Parents Conference is under way. We'll be holding the conference in San Diego this coming April 17-19, 2009. Scroll below to read more.
Valentine's Day Designs
Make it a Marine Corps Spirit Holiday 
 
Valentine's Day BulldogWe've got new designs ready to go for Valentine's Day. Show your love for the Marine Corps during this month of affection.
 
All proceeds support MarineParents.com, Inc, an IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity.  Use Coupon code BECALMSNEEZE to save $5 on an order of $50 or more through February 3.
 
Major General Stone
Speaking to Families in Atlanta Area 
 
Major General StoneHeadquarters and Service Battalion has finalized plans for Major General and Mrs. Douglas Stone's visit on 30 January. Major General and Mrs. Stone will be holding a Town Hall meeting at Southern Polytechnic State University from 4 to 6 p.m. The event will take place in their theater, located in the Student Center.
 
Major General Stone played a key role in Operation Iraqi Freedom while serving as Deputy Commanding General, Multi-National Force--Iraq (Detainee Operations) and Commanding General, Task Force 134, Baghdad, Iraq. He was recently selected for Lieutenant General and is expected to serve as Commanding General, Marine Forces Reserve for his next billet. As such, he will certainly have an impact on local Marines as well as Marines and communities throughout the United States.
 
Souls Under Siege:
The Effects of Multiple Troop Deployments and How to Weather the Storm
PTSD Souls Under Siege Dr. Bridget Cantrell 
An Excerpt From Dr. Cantrell's New Book
 
The New Year 2009 has arrived with challenges and opportunities for growth, but some of you face the readjustment issues that come along with serving in the war zone as well.   Here is a feature focused upon the process of reintegration.
 
Relating to Family
When a person leaves home to serve in the military, they are stepping out of one world into another. In most cases, they are thrust into a new environment overnight where they must readily adapt and learn to survive with a new set of rules in unfamiliar surroundings. A new soldier (sailor, airmen, or Marine) must strive to become a working participant in this new life. In the process, he or she usually develops a new persona and identity within this new "community.".
 
West Coast Dinner for Wounded
Purple Heart Hero Support™   
 
West Coast Dinner for WoundedThrough Purple Heart Hero Support™, volunteers from MarineParents.com held their second west coast dinner for wounded warriors on Monday, January 26, 2009.
 
The crew of volunteers planned meals for 100 military men and women. Actual attendance was 160 personnel.
 
Purple Heart Hero Support™ has been serving meals to family members at Bethesda Naval Hospital for two years, and will now be doing the west coast on a monthly basis.
 
Joyce Orrell, volunteer and manager of the monthly meal program was once again thrilled with the success of the dinner and how well the volunteers are received by the men and women. 
 
Our New Commander in Chief
Vows Not to Waver in America's Defense   
 
Marines Re-enlisting in Iraq
WASHINGTON - 
President Barack Obama pledged a "prudent use" of military power as the nation works toward "ushering in a new era of peace" in his inaugural address to the nation on January 20, 2009.
 
"Our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint," he said from the west side of the Capitol after taking the oath of office as the 44th president. An estimated 2 million people crowded the National Mall and surrounding area to hear his address.

The use of these principles will allow America to develop greater understanding of other nations and greater cooperation against common threats from them, he said.
 
For Combat Deployed Marines
Income Tax Filing
 
Income Tax Filing for Deployed MarinesWith 2009 in full swing, it's time to start thinking about income tax filing for 2008.  What does this mean for your combat deployed Marine?  Marine Parents offers helpful information on income tax filing and many other deployment issues.
 
Your deployed Marine has 180 days (approximately 6 months) after returning stateside to complete his/her tax return. He/she will not pay a penalty if additional taxes are due as long as they file within 180 days.
 
Your Marine is also entitled to the "Combat Pay Exemption" which states that he/she will not pay taxes on income earned while deployed to a combat zone. Afghanistan and Iraq (including Kuwait or any other country if it is in direct support of operations OIF and OEF) are considered combat zone.
 
Semper Family Ready-To-Wear
No Waiting and No Pre-Ordering 
 
Our line of Semper Family T-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies are ready and available to order TODAY. No waiting, no deadlines, and YOU choose your favorite shirt style and your favorite design.

Semper Family Store Wear

For proud Mom, Mother, Father, Dad, Parent, Wife, Husband, Sister, Brother, Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, Fiancee, Fiance, Grandma, Grandmother, Grandpa, Grandfather, Friend, Supporter, Family Member, Step Mom, Second Mom, Father-in-Law, Mother-in-Law, Son, and/or Daughter to name a few...

Mail Call During Bootcamp
What You Should and Should NOT Do 
 
Mail Call during bootcampNeed some help understanding what's okay and what's not okay to send to your Recruit at bootcamp? We've compiled years of experience from parents of recruits to help you get it figured out.
 
Stick to letters only. Resist sending packages unless your recruit has sepcifically asked you to send something.
 
Though your recruit may move from one location for training to another during bootcamp, you will always use the same mailing address for him/her (see the page at the link below for exceptions).
 
Free Airfare to TAPS in May
Deadline to Apply is February 1st 
 
TAPS free airfare15th Annual T.A.P.S. National Military Survivor Seminar (for Gold Star Families) 

TAPS is proud to sponsor free air travel for those participants who need financial assistance to attend the national seminar. There are a limited number of airline tickets, and they are available on a first come, first served basis.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this one-time offer, please email TAPS before February 1, 2009 at registration@taps.org with the information requested and they will work on getting you free airfare. They want you there!
 
Email Spam Filters
Make Sure Your Email Won't Filter Us 
 
Stop Spam ImageSome email providers filter messages based on content, subject line, or the sender's address and may put your email into the bulk or junk mail folder.
 
Please make sure @marineparents.com is on your "approved sender" list or "whitelist" and/or in your "address book." Occasionally an ISP will institute mail controls that block your email completely without your knowledge. We often do not even receive notice of such a block.
 
If you do not already know how to remedy the issue with spam, bulk, or junk mail folders, please visit our web site for general suggestions to get started. 
Peanut Butter Product Recall
Peanut Butter Recall Double Check Those Care Packages! 
Some of those foods you're putting in care packages to your Marine could be affected by the peanut butter recall. Please check this database for every item you're sending that includes peanut butter or a peanut butter product. Marine Parents is actively removing all affected items from care packages sent through The Care Package Project™.  
2009 National Conference
Plan Your Trip to San Diego April 17-19 
The 5th Marine Parents conference planning is in the works. Mark you calendars and start looking for your flights!
 
The 2009 Annual National Marine Parents Conference will be held in San Diego, California from April 17-19, 2009.  For planning purposes, the hotel will be offering room nights at $115 for up to 4 guests per room. Details and the hotel name will follow in our next newsletter. Registration fees will include all meals.
 
We'll be putting the web site together in the next few weeks for registrations and additional information.
We'll be working on some tours of Marine Corps bases for those interested in participating in pre-conference events on Friday, April 17. The conference will kick-off with a reception or dinner on Friday. Saturday, April 18, will be filled with educational breakout sessions during the day and our formal benefit dinner on Saturday evening. Sunday, April 19, will include networking opportunities and we'll close at noon.

Speakers and authors are being lined up now, to include Gunnery Seargent Nick Popaditch and back by popular demand, Purple Heart Marine Aaron Mankin from our 2008 Conference in Washington, DC.
Bulldog Naming Contest
Send your suggestion through Feb 9 
For more information and how to submit your entry, CLICK HERE.
 

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 January, 2009 USMC Photo by Cpl. Nicole A. LaVine. Marine Corps Formal School instructors of the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif., use an untouched slope of snow off their ski path to test for tell-tale signs of potential avalanche occurrence at the Leavitt Lake training area.  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 April, 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.
$5 Off Coupon
Receive $5 off any order of $50 or more.  Enter coupon code BECALMSNEEZE
 
HURRY! Offer expires February 3!
 
NOTE: All proceeds are used in support of MarineParents.com, Inc., an IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity.
New "Heart USMC" Design! Check these out!