Monday, May 30, 2016 is Memorial Day--a day for reflection, remembrance, and the honoring of the men and women who have served our country over the years.

This is also a day on which service members, their families, and military supporters across the country come together to express their patriotism, both publicly and privately. While private celebrations are, by their very nature, private, we can help you publicly show off your love for America with a variety of patriotic items from our  EGA Shop such as American flags (made in the USA!), battle cross lapel pins, and patriotic garden flags!

Since 1949, organizations and individuals across the country have come together each May to observe "Mental Health Awareness Month" and to raise awareness of, and break down the stigma surrounding, mental health-related issues.

One organization that's trying to raise mental health awareness this year is the "Real Warriors Campaign." According to its website, the Real Warriors Campaign, "the Real Warriors Campaign appreciates the sacrifices that America’s service members, military families and veterans make every day." As such, in support of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Real Warriors Campaign will be highlighting tools and resources that encourage service members to seek if it's getting difficult to manage stress and other mental health concerns. 

With that in mind, we have launched the "Angel Day Tribute" initiative. It's a way to honor our service members who made the ultimate sacrifice by remembering them each year on their Angel Day. It's also a way to recognize their family members, and to help create additional ways for those family members and comrades and friends of the fallen to connect and share with one another.

These men and women and their families have given so much on our behalf. Please join us in honoring and keeping alive the memories of these American heroes.

When your recruit leaves for boot camp, knowledge will be one of your best friends. One of the first things you'll want to learn is the structure of the Marine Corps. Here at Marine Parents, we've got the resources to help you out.

What happens when your Marine graduates and leaves the Marine Corps Recruit Depot? Where does your new Marine go next? What's After Boot?

According to records recently obtained by USA Today, the Navy recently awarded a Marine the Navy Cross for his actions in September of 2012. Due to the classified nature of the mission, the award was presented in a private ceremony. 

The Marine saved the lives of numerous civilians on the night of September 11, 2012, amid the chaos of the attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that claimed the lives of four Americans. 

A House intelligence committee report on the events in Benghazi refers to a two-person detachment of military personnel and additional security personnel who flew from Tripoli, Libya that night to rescue American citizens. 

Approximately 10 minutes after arriving at the compound, the military and security personnel were under attack by mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, and small-arms fire. The Marine helped treat the wounded, repel attackers and organize the evacuation.

According to his citation, the Marine's  “valorous actions, dedication to duty, and willingness to place himself in harm’s way for the protection of others was critical to the success of saving numerous United States civilian lives."

After nine days of competition, the 2016 Invictus Games came to an end last Thursday, May 12. 

The games, which were launched in 2014 by Prince Harry of,  encourage wounded and servicemen and women to use the power of sport to inspire themselves during their recovery and rehabilitation processes.

While the Invictus Games doesn't keep an official medal count (competition and community, not medals, are the focus of the event, and the field is heavily tilted toward the U.S. and U.K. teams as they send so many more athletes to the games than other countries), an unofficial medal count by ESPN had the U.S. team besting the U.K. team in the total medal count at 145 to 128.