 |
Semper Fi Marine Corps Families!
Thank you for opening and reading this edition of our weekly newsletter. We've got great articles to share with you this week.
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and here at Marine Parents, nothing we do would be possible without our dedicated network of volunteers. With the month approaching its end, we encourage you to thank our volunteers one more time for their hard work over the past year
. Learn more in our first article.
The Marine Corps Marathon lottery has announced the lucky recipients of bibs for their 2016 Marathon being held the end of October. If you did NOT get your bib in the lottery, we have additional bibs as a Marine Corps official charity partner. Read the article below to sign up or learn more.
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 your continued support of our brave men and women in uniform.
God Bless and Semper Fi!
|
|
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month and here at Marine Parents, our amazing volunteers are the backbone of our organization.
Over the past year, almost 120 volunteers have graciously donated thousands of hours of their own time over the last year in support of our outreach programs and Official MarineParents.com Facebook groups. The amount of comfort and reassurance this has brought to the Marine Parents family during that time is immeasurable and is more than any of us could have imagined or hoped for.
With the month nearing its end, we'd like to encourage you to say "thank you" to these dedicated individuals
one more time. Their commitment to supporting
our organization, of their fellow Marine families, and, most importantly, of our Marines themselves is second to none
.
|
|
Tapper-Hicks Freedom 5K
Petty Officer First Class David Tapper was a 13-year Navy SEAL veteran who died on August 20, 2003 in Afghanistan conducting operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. David was from Atco, New Jersey and was the youngest of six children. David joined the Navy in 1989 and graduated SEAL training two years later. His first deployment was to Afghanistan shortly after the events of September 11, 2001. He was also involved in some of the earliest fighting in Iraq in 2003, including the rescue of POW Jessica Lynch and the recovery of the bodies of nine American soldiers buried near the hospital where she was held.
Lance Corporal Jon Hicks joined the Marines in January 2006, shortly after graduating from Hammonton High School in Hammonton, New Jersey. Jon joined the Corps out of a desire to do something bigger than himself and help others. Jon is remembered by those who knew him as a true gentleman. Jon was deployed as an infantry assaultman with the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines when his unit hit an IED while on patrol, taking his life in September 2007, less than two months before he was due to return home.
This Saturday, April 23, 2016, the fourth annual Tapper-Hicks Freedom 5K Run/Walk will be held at American Legion post #311 in Atco, New Jersey. The event is held each spring in honor of Petty Officer, First Class (and Navy SEAL) David M. Tapper and Lance Corporal Jon T. Hicks, Jr., USMC. Money raised at the event will be used for their respective scholarship funds, as well as for the Waterford Township War Memorial Committee.
Click here to read more...
*Image info: David Tapper (left) and Jon Hicks (right).
|
April is the Month of the Military Child
Established in 1986 by then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, April is the Month of the Military Child.
Marine Parents would like to take this opportunity to recognize the sacrifices and support of the approximately 2 million U.S. military children 18 years old and younger who have one or both parents serving in the armed forces.
Click here to read more...
*Image info: Department of Defense image.
|
|
2016 TMP Registration is Now Open
2016 Registration for Team Marine Parents is now open! Raising awareness and funds for a grassroots organization starts on a grassroots level; it starts with YOU. If you enjoy running or competing in athletic events, encouraging communities to engage in troop support activities, and raising money for a good cause, then TMP is a great fit for you.
Also, if you are planning on running the 41st Marine Corps Marathon, consider running with TMP. We only have 27 charity partner bibs remaining, so if you didn't make it in through the lottery, join the team and get your bib today!
Click here to learn more about Team Marine Parents...
|
|
Volunteer Spotlight: Lisa Gutierrez
Here at Marine Parents, nothing we do would be possible without our amazing volunteers across the country. Our volunteers truly are the backbone of our organization, and we'd like to take this opportunity to recognize the efforts of one individual in particular.
This week's featured volunteer is a proud Marine mother and Facebook volunteer from California--Lisa Gutierrez.
Lisa is the daughter of a Marine as well as being the stepmother of a Marine who completed MCRD last June in San Diego. Around the same time, Lisa began volunteering for our Facebook groups.
Lisa currently serves as the
3rd Battalion Company Leader for Lima Company, San Diego. "
Lisa’s generous spirit and faithful dedication has cemented the 3rd Battalion, Lima Company San Diego [group] as one of the most active groups of the Marine Parents Facebook recruit groups...
I am thankful to have [her] as a member of our Marine Parents Facebook volunteer team," says Marine Parents Facebook Groups Manager Teresita Reynolds.
In addition to serving as an Official Marine Parents Facebook volunteer, Lisa has served as Co-Team Leader for Team Marine Parents (TMP) since February of this year. As Co-Team Leader, Lisa cheers on our
runners, keeps them motivated, gives them training tips, and communicates with the home office about the runners' needs. Lisa has also done a great job of recruiting other runners to join TMP and according to our other Co-Team Leader, Holly Greenup, “TMP would not be possible this year without the hard work, motivation, and attention that Lisa has given to our runners and our organization.”
Lisa has
been a runner for over 20 years--running mostly half marathons and multi-race challenges the last 5 years. Her first full marathon was last year's Marine Corps Marathon, which Lisa described as, "[A]n incredible experience," and this year she will be competing in a number of races as a member of the team.
Thank you, Lisa, for all that you do on our behalf. We greatly appreciate your dedication and support!
Click here to read more...
*Image info: Lisa Gutierrez.
|
|
TMP Spotlight: David Gold
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..
This week's TMP featured participant is Marine supporter from North Carolina--David Gold.
David's
son graduated MCRD Parris Island January 9, 2015. Up to that point, David wasn't much of a runner, but seeing his son participate in the "Moto Run" inspired him to join Team Marine Parents.
In addition to being a member of TMP, David is also a
Recruit Parents Facebook Groups Volunteer, currently serving as the 1st Battalion Company Leader, as well as the Battalion Leader for the Medical Rehabilitation Platoon.
David and his son will both be participating in the Marine Corps Half Marathon at Camp Lejeune
this September and
David is still working toward toward reaching his $500 fundraising goal. We know with your support and generosity, he can reach that goal in no time. Thanks for being a part of the team, David, we appreciate your support!
Click here to read more...
*Image info: David with his Marine Son.
|
|
Marine Corps News: Female WWII Marine Veteran Celebrates 100th Birthday
Gladys Ruth Gallavan, o
ne of the first female World War II Marines, recently celebrated her 100th birthday.
Gallivan joined the Marine Corps in 1943 at the age of 26 during the “Free a Man to Fight" campaign. During her time in the Corps, Gallavan served at Cherry Point in North Carolina before being transferred to Miramar, California.
Gallavan was honorably discharged from the Corps in 1946 after three years of service, before going into the civil service. She later settled into civilian life, getting married and having two sons.
Click here to read more...
*Image info:
(National Archives and Records Administration image/released)
|
|
Marine Corps News: Marine Who Lost Leg in Afghanistan Runs Boston Marathon
In October of 2011, United States Marine Sergeant Jose Luis Sanchez
stepped on an IED
(improvised explosive device) while on patrol in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province. The explosion destroyed his left leg, which was amputated below the knee, and left his right leg permanently injured.
Despite his injuries, in typical Marine fashion, Sanchez overcame his injuries in the subsequent years and, earlier this week, was one of approximately 30,000 runners to participate in the 2016 Boston Marathon. Sanchez ran with the Semper Fi Fund's "Team Semper Fi" in an attempt
to raise awareness for and inspire wounded and recovering Marines to overcome the various obstacles they may be facing.
Click here to read more...
|
|
Marine Corps News: Marines Help Japan Earthquake Recovery Efforts
Four MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni on April 19 to help support the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force with relief and recovery efforts after a series of earthquakes struck the island of Kyushu earlier this week. The Ospreys arrived just one day after four other Ospreys had arrived from the Philippines.
The Ospreys were chosen to aid in the efforts due to their time-distance and load carrying capabilities, as well as their ability for vertical take-off and landing allowing Marines to provide aid in otherwise hard to reach areas.
“The Ospreys are uniquely suited for this situation. Their capabilities allow us to rapidly close the distance, get into affected areas and not rely on a runway,” said Colonel Romin Dasmalchi, commanding officer of the 31st MEU. “The Osprey’s ability to land anywhere gives us options to deliver relief supplies that we wouldn’t have with a traditional fixed wing aircraft or helicopter."
Click here to read more...
*Image info:
MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 18, 2016 to aid in recovery efforts after a series of earthquakes struck the island of Kyushu.
(USMC photo by
Corporal Samantha Villarreal)
|
|
Marine Corps News: Families of Marines Killed in Chattanooga Shooting Receive Purple Hearts
On July 16 of last year, a gunman went on a shooting spree at a military recruiting center and a U.S. Navy Reserve center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, killing four Marines, a Sailor, and wounding two more people.
In a private ceremony held Wednesday, April 20, the families of the four Marines received Purple Heart medals from Lieutenant General Rex McMillian, who presided over the event. “Our brothers were taken from us; your sons, your husbands, your fathers, your brothers were taken from us,” said McMillian. “But what cannot, and will not ever be taken from us is the incredible impressions they made on each and every one of us."
The Marines killed in the attack were
Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan, Staff Sergeant David Wyatt, Sergeant Carson Holmquist, and Lance Corporal Squire “Skip” Wells.
Click here to read more...
*Image info:
Battle crosses are mounted on stage at the Mckenzie Arena at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Aug. 15, 2015. The battle crosses are symbolic replacements for crosses for service members who have fallen in the line of duty. Four Marines and one sailor died during a shooting in Chattanooga, Tennessee, July 16, 2015.
(USMC photo by Sgt. Terry Brady)
|
|
Marine Corps News: Supreme Court Holds Iran Responsible for 1983 Marine Barracks Bombing
On Wednesday, April 20, in a 6-2 ruling, the Supreme Court upheld actions taken by Congress holding Iran financially responsible for multiple acts of terrorism dating back to the 1983 bombing of the Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon.
The ruling came after an almost 15-year legal battle and is a major victory for the more than 1,000 victims and their family members who sought access to almost $2 billion in Iranian assets in a U.S. bank.
In addition to victims of the Beirut bombing, victims of the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 service members and victims of the 2001 suicide bombing of a Jerusalem pizzeria that killed 15 people were also plaintiffs in the case.
Click here to read more...
*Image info:
The Marine barracks building in Beirut, Lebanon, prior to the bombing.
(Photo courtesy of II MEF/released)
|
|
This Week in Marine Corps History: Joe Foss Born
Ninety-nine years ago this week, on April 17, 1915, future Medal of Honor recipient Joseph "Joe" Foss, was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
In 1940, Foss joined the Marine Corps as a pilot, and went on to become a leading American "ace" during World War II. During his time in the Corps, Foss won 26 aerial victories and received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Medal of Honor for his actions over Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands where he recorded 23 confirmed (and numerous other probable) kills in just over a month between October and November of 1942.
Following his time in the military, Foss had a number of jobs, including serving as the 20th Governor of South Dakota, the Commissioner of the American Football League, and the President of the National Rifle Association. He died in Arizona in 2003 at the age of 87.
Click here to learn more....
*Image info:
Joseph Foss (USMC photo/released).
|
|
This Week in Marine Corps History: Marine Security Guard Killed in Lebanon
Thirty-three years ago this week, on April 18, 1983, more than 60 people, including 17 Americans, were killed when a car bomb exploded outside the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. Among those killed was Marine Security Guard
Lance Corporal Robert McMaugh, who was later buried at Arlington National Cemetery. A further seven Marine Security Guards were wounded in the explosion.
Click here to learn more....
*Image info: The
U.S. Embassy three days after the bombing
(USMC photo/released)
|
|
This Week in Marine Corps History: Marine Aviators See First Action in Korean War
Sixty-five years ago this week, on April 21, 1951, carrier-based Marine airplanes made their first contact with enemy planes over North Korea. Captain Philip C. Delong shot down two YAK fighters and 1st Lieutenant Harold D. Daigh destroyed one more and damaged another near Pyongyang. Both pilots were with VMF-312 flying from the
USS Bataan.
The USS
Bataan
in January 1952 in preparation for her second Korean War deployment.
(U.S.Navy photo/released)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
