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MarineParents.com Newsletter
a Place to Connect & Share 
In This Issue
Newsletter Signup
Social Media Information
TMP Events Open
Purple Heart Dinners
A Big Thank You!
PTSD Class-Action Settlement
Montford Point Marines
Caregiver Support Proposal
Help Our Gold Star Parents!
Paul E. Singer Foundation Donation
Deployed Marines Tax Returns
Military Speak
Learning Center:
Operational Security

When communicating online, your Marine's privacy is as important as Operational Security. Please respect YOUR Marine's privacy!

Operational Security... Now?

 

Click to learn more!

The EGA Store 
Stay Updated... 
We're constantly adding new products for you and your Marine! 


Spruce up your mailbox for spring!


Show off your pride in trendy shirts!


Stay up-to-date with our collection of books!


Keep your Marine stocked with essentials!

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Learning Center:
About Deployment
 
 
Communications From your Marine, with the USMC, and with other families
 
Care Packages Tips, tricks and money savers for mailing to YOUR Marine
 
Bills, taxes, legal issues, injuries, notification from the Marine Corps
 
 
Learning Center:
About Homecoming
 
 
 
 
 
Support Our Marines
Show your support of our Marines and their families by participating in one of our outreach programs:
 
 
 
 
 
New Logos

With the start of a new year, and the celebration of our 9th anniversary, we are getting a new look!

 

We look forward to continuing the good works of supporting families and Marines through the many outreach programs of Marine Parents for years to come!

 

Click here to read the story of our new logos!
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Veterans Crisis Hotline

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The Veterans Crisis Hotline is a great resource for veterans, active duty military, and their families, and is backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Qualified responders are available 24/7 to offer confidential help in times of need.

 

Learn more here... 

 

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February 8, 2012
Click here for the history...
 Greetings Marine Families!

If this is the first edition of the Marine Parents newsletter you have received, WELCOME! If you are a returning reader we are glad you have joined us and thankful for your support.

In This Issue

We are asking for your help in a call to action for our Gold Star Families. Click here to help!

We'll honor Black History Month with a story about the first African American Marines who trained at Montford Point. We'll also fill you in on our Outreach Programs, like upcoming Team Marine Parents™ events and how Purple Heart Hero Support™ dinners are starting 2012 off right! 

We have more resources available for you regarding tax filing for your deployed Marine and updates on supporting your journey with PTSD, while our Ooh-Rah Spotlight and Military Speak pieces are sure to lift your spirits!  

God bless and Semper Fi!
Irish Sprint & Leon B. Deraps Walk

 

First Team Marine Parents™ Events of 2012  

 

Still need to get involved with Team Marine Parents™? The first two events of 2012 are quickly approaching and are open for registration!  

 

Irish Sprint 10K

Saturday, March 17, 2012 

Marine Corps Base Quantico

Run the 6.2 miles to guarantee access to the Marine Corps Marathon!

Click here for more information! 

 
Lcpl. Leon B. Deraps Memorial Scholarship Walk

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Jamestown, Missouri

Walk, run, or ride to celebrate the fourth annual event in honor of Lcpl. Leon B. Deraps!  

Click here for more information! 

  

Sound like fun? Click here for more events!

Purple Heart Hero Support™ Dinners

 

Serving Our Wounded Heroes and Their Families a Taste of Home 

 

The January Purple Heart Hero Support™ dinners that took place on the East and West coasts started the new year off right! California Tortilla and KFC's delicious fares helped feed the wounded and their families, with extras and desserts brought in by the kind volunteers. Brain teaser puzzles and visits from very special guests added to the fun atmosphere which allowed heroes and their loved ones to bond with others in the hospital.

 

Purple Heart Hero Support™ dinners take place twice each month at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda and the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. Click to read about more great dinners or to learn more!   


Ooh-Rah Spirit
 
Injured Marines Send a Big Thank You  
We recently received a great thank you from a Medical Readiness Coordinator about care packages we sent:

Thank you for your support and the care packages!
We have taken a picture at our medical facility to show our appreciation!! These blankets and toothbrushes will be put to great use to help our Wounded Warriors. Thank you once again for all your support.

A big ooh-rah to our heroes, we are happy to help! Remember to send your proud pictures to lrv@marineparents.com
PTSD Class-Action Settlement

  

Help for Injured Veterans and Their Families 

 

On December 22, 2011, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims gave approval to a class-action settlement victory for veterans and their families. As a result of the settlement proposed by The National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP), the U.S. military agreed to pay lifetime disability retirement benefits to 1,029 of the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans discharged with PTSD who were denied benefits.   

 

"These veterans served our country in time of war, but have waited 3 to 8 years to receive the disability benefits they've earned for their service," reflect NVLSP co-executive director, Bart Stichman, "This is a happy ending to a sad chapter of military mistreatment..."

  

Click here to read about the benefits...
Black History Month Tribute 
 
Montford Point Marines Semper Spirit 

The history of thousands of brave men who served our country through numerous wars and battles has been virtually unknown to most Americans for many years. Though we know about the Tuskegee Airmen and Buffalo Soldiers, most civilians, and even many in the military, do not know the struggles and successes of the Montford Point Marines.


In 1942, Camp Montford Point was established with the first African Americans to serve as Marines since the American Revolution. The history of Montford Point and the brave men who trained there is a testament to the price African Americans had to pay in order to gain acceptance into one of the nation's most respected institutions.

Further back in history, rules were set forth limiting who was allowed to fight for and defend the United States. In 1792, Congress limited service in the state militia to "free able-bodied white male citizens." Six years later, the secretary of war echoed this declaration, saying "No Negro, Mulatto, or Indian" could enlist in the Navy, Army, or Marines.

   

 Click here to read the story...  

 

Expanding Caregiver Support 
 
First Lady Announces Proposal 

A new proposal from the Labor Department in Washington, D.C. aims to increase support for those taking care of wounded, injured, and ill service members as part of the Family and Medical Leave Act.


First Lady Michelle Obama, backed by senior military leaders, like Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis, proposed rules on January 30, 2012 to help caregivers take time off before, during, and after conditions arise with their loved one, without the fear of repercussions. According to Labor Department statistics, this proposal could help 15,500 eligible employees take the time needed to help their veteran, with over 193,000 family members being covered by the changed rule.

  

Click here for more information... 
Help Out Gold Star Parents 
 
You Can Help Change a Law!

My son's re-deployment to Heaven on Sept. 24th 2010 was and still is the hardest thing I have ever gone through in my life. The pain never goes away but through time we as parents figure out what our new normal is going to be. Life as we knew it will forever be changed. I support this bill 100%....

-Gold Star mother, Kathleen

  

Currently the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) permits workers, in companies with 50 or more employees, to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to help care for a sick immediate family member. Surprisingly, the FMLA does not cover the death of a child. As a result some bereaved moms and dads have had to make the difficult decision as to whether to spend time away from their companies and risk losing their jobs or return to work long before they are ready.

 

How does this affect you - the loved one of someone in the Marine Corps? It affects you, because this oversight in the FMLA is hurting our Gold Star families. We are asking you to join with us in supporting a proposed amendment to FMLA that would allow unpaid leave time of up to 12 weeks for families who have lost a child.

 

Click here for more information... 

Paul E. Singer Foundation Donation

  

Thank You's for Continued Support 

In September of 2011, we received an incredibly generous donation from The Paul E. Singer Foundation. The Foundation heard we were in need of funding and sent us an amazing $25,000. We wanted to thank them once again for this kind donation, which is being used to support many wounded military heroes and their families through our Purple Heart Hero Support™ program. The needs of this program, along with many others, are growing rapidly, and we are so blessed to receive donations from individuals, companies and foundations wanting to help support these programs. A warm thank you to The Paul E. Singer Foundation for their support and appreciation of our heroes and their loved ones. God bless!

 

Click here to learn more about Purple Heart Hero Support™... 

Deployed Marines Tax Returns 

 

 

Information for Your Marine  

 

Tax time is upon us and we wanted to remind you of some important details concerning taxes for your deployed loved one...
 
Your deployed Marine has 180 days 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. He or she will be given an opportunity to have a military accountant assist them with taxes upon return stateside. Some overseas locations, particularly those with established bases (generally not combat zones) will have facilities to prepare taxes with your Marine during deployment.

 

Click here for more information on taxes...   

Military Speak

 

Try Out Some New Vocabulary!  

 

Ever get confused when your Marine is talking? Think they're speaking a different language? Marines have different words and a language all their own, but our guide makes it easier to keep up...

 Sec Navy

All Hands- All members of a command

As You Were- Resume former activity

Belay- To make fast or secure, as in "belay the line" 

Bivouac- A camp in the field

Bow- Front of the ship

Breakout- Take out of stock or storage; prepare for use

Brig- A place of confinement; a prison

C.O.- Commanding Officer

Conus- Continental United States

C.P.- Command Post in the field

Carry On- The order to resume former activity

Chit- A piece of paper; a receipt or authorization

Cover- Marines don't wear hats - they wear covers

 

Click here for more terminology...

 
 

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.     


Marines with Battalion Landing Team transport Amphibious Assault Vehicles to the dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD-46) from Camp Schwab. Elements of the 31st MEU will participate in the multi-lateral training exercise Cobra Gold 2012 in the Kingdom of Thailand alongside military participants and representatives from approximately 25 countries. Click here for more photos 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. We've helped 400,000 Marine and recruit families during bootcamp, training, active duty and deployments. We've shipped over 30,000 care packages overseas to our Marines in Iraq Afghanistan, sent 60,000 of prayers and letters to injured Marines and served thousands of meals to Wounded Warriors and their families on both the East and West coasts. You've found a Place to Connect & Share™.

 

 

God Bless and Semper Fidelis,

 


Tracy Della Vecchia
Founder and Executive Director
MarineParents.com, Inc.