September 24, 2015
Greetings!

Thank you for joining us for this issue of Marine Parents News. If this is your first time receiving the newsletter, welcome aboard, we're excited for you to be here!

Gold Star Family Day is just three days awayOur goal is to have as many communities as possible in each state support the families of our fallen heroes. There is power in numbers and together we can show Gold Star families that we are a grateful nation. Learn more in our first article. 

To see what else is new with the organization or to learn more about the Marine Corps, check out the rest of our articles. We hope you enjoy!

Thank you for joining us and especially for your continued support of our brave men and women in uniform.

Semper Fi Marine Families!
Gold Star Luminary Initiative

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." 
--John 15:13 (NIV)

It could be argued that an even greater love does exist; that of a parent for their child. Tragically, in the last decade, almost 7,000 families have been forced to deal with the utterly devastating heartbreak that accompanies that love as their children laid down their lives for their country.

Most of us have not experienced this tragedy. Most of us never will. We can't relate personally or begin to imagine what that must be like. What we can do, however, is honor and recognize these families. We can thank them for the sacrifices they and their children have made on our behalf. We can let them know that, no matter what, we support and stand behind them as a country and that, if even just for a day, their burden is our burden too.

We ask that you light a luminary on Gold Star Family Day. Please pledge your support of this special day and encourage your community to light luminaries, honoring members of all branches of the service, including those who have lost the fight after struggling to reintegrate into civilian life. Our goal is to have as many communities as possible in each state support the families of our fallen heroes. There is power in numbers and together we can show Gold Star families that we are a grateful nation.


If you are hosting or attending a luminary event in your community, we encourage you to share your pictures with us  by clicking here...

*Image info: Luminaries from the 2014 Columbia, Missouri Luminary Initiative event. 

Department of Defense Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Last Friday, September 18, the Department of Defense (DOD), joined organizations and individuals around the country in recognizing and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 - October 15.

According to a release from the DOD:
     
      "The department will honor National Hispanic Heritage Month with         programs and activities at installations around the world. The                 Pentagon will host a ceremony to present a temporary display,               designed and owned by the Hispanic Medal of Honor Society, which features Hispanic Medal of       Honor recipients...Other Hispanic Medal of Honor displays around the National Capital Region         include one titled, “Return with Honor,” which illustrates the story of Commander Everett Alvarez       Jr., the first American pilot shot down over North Vietnam. “Return with Honor” will be featured at       the Navy Yard. A third display entitled “Justice for my People” showcases the story of Dr. Hector         P. Garcia, the first civil rights activist and founder of the American G.I. Forum will be displayed at         Fort Belvoir in Building 1458."
*Image info: Pfc. Harold Gonsalves, a Hispanic-American Marine, lost his life and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Okinawa in WWII. (Photo Courtesy of USMC)
Learning More About the Corps: Neller Succeeds Dunford as Commandant

Today, September 24, 2015, saw General Robert Neller replace General Joseph Dunford as Commandant of the Marine Corps in a ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington, 8th & I.

Neller will be the 37th Commandant in Marine Corps history, while Dunford will next serve as the 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff where he will become only the second Marine to serve in such a capacity.

Click here to learn more...

*Image info: General  Joseph Dunford (left), will serve as the 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff while General Commandant Robert Neller (right) will serve as the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps.  (USMC photos)
Learning More About the Corps: 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines Reactivated

Last Thursday, September 17, 2015, saw the return of one of the most deployed units in Marine Corps history.

After a more-than-15-month hiatus, the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines was reactivated last week in a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, at the Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field. The parade ground is named after one of the battalion's own who was killed in Iraq.

Over the course of its 90-year history, the “Thundering Third,” which was originally activated in 1925 on Naval Base San Diego, deactivated and reactivated seven other times. While active, the unit has participated in some of America's most demanding conflicts, including World War II, Vietnam, and the War on Terror, during which the unit was the most combat-deployed battalion in the Corps.

Click here to learn more...

*Image info: The 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment Color Guard stands at parade rest during the reactivation ceremony at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field  (USMC photo by Lance Cpl. Levi Schultz)
This Week in Marine Corps History: Marines Cross Han River
 
Sixty-five years ago this week, on September 20, 1950, Marines of the 1st Marine Division crossed the Han River eight miles northwest of Seoul,South Korea. Five days later, the 1st and 5th Marines attacked Seoul and, by the 27th, had captured it.

*Image info:  American and Korean Marines cross the Han River in an LVT-3c of the Marines' 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion. (USMC photo)
This Week in Marine Corps History: Marines Land in Colombia
 
One hundred and forty-two years ago this week, on September 24, 1873, 199 Marines and seamen from the USS Pensacola  and the USS Benicia   landed at the Bay of Panama in what is now Colombia, South America, to protect the railroad and American lives and property as local groups fought for control over the government of Panama.

Click here to read more...

*Image info: The USS PensacolaI in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1861. (U.S. Navy photo)
Operation Prayers and Letters

Operation Prayers & Letters™ (Operation PAL), one of the outreach programs of MarineParents.com, provides support to wounded, ill, and injured troops through prayers and letters written by individuals in communities throughout the United States.

Since 2006, Operation PAL supporters have sent cards and letters to more than 150 recovering warriors. Originally, we made it our goal to cross the 100,000 card and letter threshold by September 1 of this year, but have decided to extend the deadline to October 1 to allow students to have one last chance to send us letters after the new school year begins later this month.

So far, we've sent more than 99,000 cards. That means we have just one more week to reach our goal of 100,000, so we need your help! 

These cards and letters may not seem like much to those of us on the outside looking in, but the recovering warriors who receive them, as well as those who are involved in their respective recovery processes, such as family members, volunteers, and medical professionals, will attest to the impact these cards and letters can have. 

Please, help us show these men and women that we still support them, that we haven't forgotten them, that their sacrifices are appreciated. With your support, we know we can reach our goal in time. Please, take the time to write a card or letter today!

Meet the Team: Alan Lizotte
 
Team Marine Parents™ (TMP) is a group of individuals, generally parents, family, and friends of Marines, who participate in athletic events nationwide to support our troops. The mission is to raise funds and awareness of the organization's outreach programs.  Currently, there are over 50 members of Team Marine Parents™ around the country.

This week's TMP featured partic ipant is a proud Marine father-- Alan Lizotte.

Alan's son, Alex, is an active duty Marine and this is the second consecutive year that Alan will participate in the Marine Corps Marathon on behalf of TMP. So far, Alan has raised 85% of his $500 goal, and we know with your support and generosity he can reach his goal in no time.

Thanks for being a part of the team, Alan, and good luck in October!

To learn more about Alan, or to contribute to his campaign, please click here...

*Image info: Alan Lizotte (right) and his Marine son, Alex (left). 
EGA Shop: Military Garden Gnome

Our military garden gnome is just under a foot tall and is all decked out in his desert camouflage! Carrying a "Support Our Troops" sign, this bearded fellow shows his heartfelt support for our troops. A light-hearted way to proclaim your allegiance to this country and to all who defend it! All-weather resin is perfect for displaying indoors or out. Resin.

100% of the proceeds from the EGA Shop benefit the outreach programs of MarineParents.c om, Inc.

Click here to buy now!
Are You From Arizona?
For more than 12 years we've been supporting poolee, recruit, and Marine parents and family members. Now we've added Official MarineParents.com Groups on Facebook for parents and family members of Marines, recruits, and poolees. We invite you to come on in and join us in a Place to Connect and Share with other Marine Parents and family members.
 
Join this Official MarineParents.com Facebook group to connect with other Marine Families in Arizona by  clicking here...

To see a full list of our Facebook state groups, please  click here..
Connect & Share: