| 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, 1/6
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:
Washington, IL
Whippany, NJ
Beaumont, TX
Atlanta, GA
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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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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Greetings 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.
Our meetings this week in Washington, DC for HR 24 had to be postponed due to weather. There is still time to sign the petition, and we need more signatures! Over 1000 folks have signed since our last newsletter, but we need to rally further and dig in to our email lists to share the petition. Complete information about HR24 can be found on our website here:
You can now follow Marine Parents on Twitter:
and follow The EGA Store on Facebook:
Thanks for your continued support! |
| Join Us in New Orleans, LA |
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| Start Planning Your Trip for April 16-18
Join us and "laisez les bons temps rouler" at the upcoming 6th Annual Marine Parents Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana!
Home to jazz, Creole, the 4th Marine Division, and the Marine Corps Reserves, New Orleans provides a relaxed and vibrant atmosphere to Connect & Share™ with other Marine Corps families. We invite you to attend April 16-18, 2010 for an opportunity to network and learn from each other, a series of respected speakers, and innovative break out sessions.
This year's venue is the legendary JW Marriott Hotel, a luxurious hotel blending contemporary style with old world charm located on the edge of New Orleans' historic French Quarter. Watch for additional information in upcoming newsletters and on the website.
We hope you'll join us for what is sure to be a memorable conference and an incredible visit to New Orleans! As Founder Tracy Della Vecchia said, "Wherever you are in your journey, as the family member of a recruit, a Marine, a Veteran, a Purple Heart Marine or a Fallen Marine, Marine Parents is here for you, with thousands of hands behind you, supporting you in ways that are both very visible and nearly invisible. I encourage you to embrace the philosophy of 'the well of fortitude' as we gain strength from one another no matter what our challenges may be."
The Annual Marine Parents Conference provides numerous opportunities for us to encourage, support, and strengthen our Marines and Marine families. Don't miss out on this unique event. Come and experience the "joie de vivre" as a Marine and as a Marine family! |
| Marines Head Home |
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| Quietly Wrapping Up Ops in Iraq
 By mid-February, Marines will be out of Iraq.
After almost seven years of bloodshed, 850 Marines killed in action and a pedigree of hard-won victories that toppled Saddam Hussein's regime, propped up a new government and quelled a tenacious insurgency, Col. Scott's boots will be among the very last in the sand.
But before he can step on a flight home, he must lead Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Responsible Drawdown and coordinate shipment of thousands of pieces of remaining equipment and Marines out of Iraq.
In late January, the Marine commander in Iraq transferred authority over Anbar province to the Army's 1st Armored Division, which also oversees Baghdad. The ceremony in Ramadi leaves the Corps without an area of operations in Iraq and marks an official end to the Corps' large-scale commitment in the country.
Watch Video Footage
Brought to you by MarinesTV.
Some of the last Marines deployed to Iraq are leaving the country in the hands of the Army and local government.
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| Proud Parent of a Marine Magnet |
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| Proudly Made in the U.S.A.
 Cover your rear with car magnets from The EGA Store!
Our "Proud Parent of a Marine"
yellow ribbon car magnet is proudly Made in the USA!
You can't go wrong with a classic yellow ribbon to display support for our troops and this magnet has the added bonus of the text: "Proud Parent of a Marine" - just one of various car magnets available at our online store.
We also have license plate covers, bumper stickers and decals; everything you need to cover your rear AND support a great cause with your purchase!
Each time you purchase merchandise from Marine Parents, proceeds from your purchase support our outreach services and programs.
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| "Two Black Socks" for Marines |
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| Family and Friends Spotlight
 Lewis and Clark Middle School of Jefferson City, Missouri successfully ran their own Student Council sponsored "Black Socks Campaign" during the month of December in which enough money for 1100 pairs of black socks was raised.
"It took 400 miles and 14 Wal-Mart stores to buy all the socks," proclaimed Beth Ayers of Lewis and Clark, but the school was proud that they had exceeded their 1000 pair goal.
The socks were shipped during Marine Parents' January frigid Packing Day bundled with twine and a selected 6th grade student's poem, "Two Black Socks."
The thoughtful poem detailed concerns for lacking Marine recognition, and conveyed the community's desire to let the Marines know they and all they do are appreciated.
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| Brand New! Blog Talk Radio |
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| Join us February 19th at 7:30 pm CST
 As part of our ongoing efforts to bring resources and information to the families of Marines and to Marines and service personnel who are recovering from combat, we will be doing radio talk shows with experts and guest speakers.
We will hold our next radio show on February 19th at 7:30 pm CST with Dr. Bridget Cantrell, author and expert on combat recovery and PTSD.
You can listen to our radio programs online or you can call in to listen. The call in phone number is (347) 826-9285 and we encourage you to call in during the live broadcast to ask questions and to share stories, comments, or concerns.
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| Tax Season Arrived |
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| But What if You're Deployed?
 With 2010 in full swing, it's time to start thinking about income tax filing for 2009.
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.
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| Show Your Unit Pride |
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| With Your Unit Specific Gear!
We have specific unit and battalion logos just for you!
Divisions, Regiments, Infantry Battalions, Reserves, Radio Battalions, Comm Battalions, Artillery Units, Expeditionary Units, MEB's, MEF's, Aircraft Wings, Anglico FMF's, Tanks, Recon, Force Recon, AAB Units, CLB Units, CEB Units, FSSG Units, LAR Units...
Find your Marine's unit and choose from a variety of merchandise to show YOUR unit pride! A T-shirt for the gym, a coffee mug for the office, a framed print for your home; the options are endless.
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