An Ignoble Experiment: More Ways to Connect and Share in 2012!

Having trouble viewing this email?
Click here
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=qovdcsbab&v=0016-lMRck6nqFk_3KPdRbhz17hUXdOElid1huYGI10jYekJq24iJRJnXBpFSBzioGxVMTgBzIRKlDAd5pCW-3q1zr2ChS4OS8PVV7wJnERl8t5D9tGo7Cnb6YIzz_aOntP

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MarineParents.com Newsletter
a Place to Connect & Share(TM)

In This Issue

Newsletter Signup
Get Fit with Team Marine Parents in 2012!
Caregiver Group on MFN
Souper Heroes Drive
Hearts of Valor Ball
Family Spotlight
Camp Pendleton Memorial Service
Social Media Handbook
Corporate Office Blood Drive
PHFS Dinners
eMarine Resource
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Awards

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Learning Center:

Operational Security

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

Click to learn more! [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AftIQGcP0YM5FyE9Nqcg0ERUO_qw4QrEUphvKMWYEbhKEa1ohnHIwCdA8ZMh4yEnZ2nD1zi_VIgtOF23HYVVAVX-c_4eSfMHPDY4unSkXFa6rliaUWtFV9NDC77olTPXwEPSMByA_hPvQQ==]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marine Corps Honored

Person of the Year

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently named the Marine Corps as their Person of the
Year! The newspaper started the tradition this year, which can honor either an individual
or group.

The editorial board says there was no better way to start it off than by naming
the Marine Corps as Person of the Year, given the ties they have to San Diego and
the amazing works they do for our nation and worldwide. Ooh-Rah and Semper Fi!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit Our Sponsors

Feel the Love...
It's the perfect time to start shopping for Valentine's day with the EGA Store!
Silk ties... [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5Aftbxq_6-kYvdhbXsDvytbtcWQRah9K60ID6kp0fQUrXH6NwxWtBmaPApoLKJrfzFh9p2unlGiwlzerFo-yseTh4OyS5MBACkVpSY4lKNw1OVaKFVIPSpXFke7Tg5Pr_QJNqRTSDng1rTLPumuMjv_XflKktrq7JNNIaLYJVqFlXRA==]
Beautiful jewelry... [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfvxC0r-Jxc9uLWj9K7Xwa7u-N9b9hLaUBqwyBLboPRb-O-Q83XAQS5ijBXB04FyoFnHT7dNsnDVSxbL3jA7weNVz9O25I8WnB4b4acHryxG7jm_tkeXLWk7hd7UUuldgrPB1fNP1ZDjJZGXo7YWx_MkPc-oDUic9YqJHovFbxGykg==]
Adorable plushes... [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfvKu2PQaosQVs5WrePh9jowM-ZjJa7gjphn1LtUw3oF-mxyEsfXApkUytRJcbZpvhE6q8JpfvMgQZjCx_jAT3bp5iDqpWSDksjToqKY9BLqypQYYhV_FkWn5lQMZBHcHu29i-t7DV54tTComXb-tC82whqmd-XH11wJ3CqqajYk0w==]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Learning Center:
About Deployment

Preparing for Deployment [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfsxaBxClWBX3z3IBDfJ7zzbq4Ugt5zmhJ6-HV-y0OH8_LxVVyP2XcH1WUW-5awTDXUFY7WWY_JNLBySQx9aXteixeIL4jr-_RG6RHj5WmOevE17jMpbeJ-D_npYWbG-dvgDeYDUi0rTfiUJyqc68RtqXPt1fw0USIc=]
Arrival "In Country" [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfsDRRJO09-iwNsN_55XzPr3uVmQ7VRDjPWoIPRtkb1SkaGCfBL0XEzLHuHaFBv29b2mn7fGuP7AKWJGKYRgqUWPBCOnvNdPtifhivAFHG59rT09Tl2vuMJwxuNgnPQmz2cPa07GVIBhlTVw6QLm_I-xTdcKUNiYyUA=]
Communications [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5Afty5eUMWJfreCcST0w13KuHJRzDzfSE_dBkGQYYBAMYnJuFhlHMpJkxwTXIIztbDfJPUO2dGX4r7Jpfg4mcZVsQDCkkP9csqnmRG5V66LqKbyIpxFSAxRwgU63p3wAs3pSw3-gAkbQSa7Byc8MfWXo1_tE9uoYWe14=]
From your Marine, with the USMC, and with other families
Care Packages [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5Afty5eUMWJfreCcST0w13KuHJRzDzfSE_dBkGQYYBAMYnJuFhlHMpJkxwTXIIztbDfJPUO2dGX4r7Jpfg4mcZVsQDCkkP9csqnmRG5V66LqKbyIpxFSAxRwgU63p3wAs3pSw3-gAkbQSa7Byc8MfWXo1_tE9uoYWe14=]
Tips, tricks and money savers for mailing to YOUR Marine
Issues During Deployment [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5Afu8JUscgyualcOYx4a5WcxiSVC1nCw3LEdQKMdQkHPZv9TzuHSBpeedXgBfwIjHXrKasMLw8EWvdNDQfqpYhpfFoQirxJaaKggvQDWTpA8OiJY98Z5WnwoZjCvksPRlOYGgz29KGMTr9eyYO5-UhJXc]
Bills, taxes, legal issues, injuries, notification from the Marine Corps
Your Health & Well Being [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfvinXmUjGOwXGJheIUfuCCEym_vTgKZpd7SVOTutoW6v9CB8GPNVUIHDWHVaZ5_c90xTKudb_mYqpQDR-Nd_wvau3vZuEVJaw1beRbt4POOyykNby090ad40nmitJ1q3Wuzi0sMdj2dwA==]
PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfvPciHQV110S7QJ1qryT5_nQDv_26llUnC2EhGUDlILI6sMMrRsPhNfQAQ7AdKVhlyeaKy4wXLjin947BJrAsipHeHBfGcRvZX2EmbIb-ZWKfgqZgwp-n4FbUcN9VWLp13MT-OYVoDQkFRecSiWkWZASWUJSSEzbHA=]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Learning Center:
About Homecoming

Overview of Process [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AftMUtYTWnE_sZf05GgQBH41QV3pCCz9tGLiNadGrWrvSVvhfJ6QFw1TxFWMoM-H1sdN8FtcrmYSGRFj2XI7RyTXvO19Vu8fye_pr4e-0OMZ8kGJjFeSr_0eeDe4N8DfnXv07-v-1pQc4-mOjlHDJBAr]
Homecoming Workbook [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5Aft8D9b-jngwqRZZrEX7jkAmOprApz14TejJ5xcz2dYSI3m7Hdc2fmqHOOaXH8eOTpY6GFLjJn3y9fZSg-UFI-rb9rVtZS1lngIWNAoZAU79QQV-ME2zZUjFkgqmbS4KjdVImHz_966mZIJ33XaIsVBLx4BCup1pbkz8Pv_6SjmGCQ==]
Return and Reunion Guide [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfvVTi2FgSbYynTdtG6-0Q_pD8TGrLuWxGYecRFSGaJmiyH-xMrQN21WF-azNYGnnQVrV-PEBjharvzvTOj3yjtq0xm1QPx15JGYo5K_yzCWj5jyBv-UHU772wqJ8lpCK9mnCQ75JG-f20BWCu4yypNlTjDUInO8nzb3OqGo3teeml4vokuFAwjv]
Travel Plans [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AftGLQFlCSmH6OTuLPHKmm8PhiBPD_H4uPX9R6QBtbG03ZXMQ_bkCVs1gBIF2pi4ecGQA3UslvRBoXhSBL7s3k833gaa117bC6x9LFL_Su5MHQr_xr5L46FqVwlHaRoEEEWIeuxLjj7bVA==]
Post-War Help & Links [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5Afvg-4LIGeyZ6zbYL-_YFG-Maycm9BQQqENq8LHX8QPx3v-raZy4hIWXBIrZiqzG_Ob8GTvYdur8SqmOBazDAg5tWg08sq-K-55izvVHbQKpZ0KoI5gWC004oBbG55El1RvjFS682V09Zg==]
Homecoming Supplies [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AftZtzVkAZusyIg1Xf1PcKkgWDtIqrG6L21Ja21QhMmnHVb_aQ2Kb7TAoCRRDPLpjI9sdQ0fswojNmL433JgJJKPmr-xQVn3AS438Nz-5LHiVvHn4EfZpjQCOxDbASMfm7ZZfu2jGlCEm6UuDRgG8dZHu0RRb5UxK3gWTwHjUTzHDw==]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Support Our Marines

Show your support of our Marines and their families by participating in one of our
outreach programs:

The Care Package Project [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfvkjFjxr8WM1PHpCcYzgjHCBOmjFS0ERfP4ZtmUOwpZaLmfZUkO48NLiwNIk6IYPU7zw1ALhBay4Qe5lDjMrirtBE6lpq096mO7wj60JuCY3vnHUTEr6Iqe-nQeqeDOiwI=]
Operation PAL [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfsKJp9apQqHeUUXguyps1vJ5J5FtbbFLIM1ew4_lbBY0jEqIXApxHCaAjJT9KjK2dws8bdw2qL36sroataV15w-SsiqYRrFjXp0F6ZGUQd_mA==]
Team Marine Parents [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfvhHdVXSt8tFVmONkum_VBsmJGoUDRIppEIvlYA7L48lkScbzkj-ErhZ5vHuTOWQEanjs5D7bv_q44zC1iZx81mvl90MZwvInuvaENafIxmxd0IiQFuq5Z_]
Purple Heart Family Support [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5Aftgq8LCemSOhSnyGOjsXpPdD5X4BKsamVlIHuNIaou6F78-LYozyBKS5dtKhgZxZjjBW417BCAccyaFCSLlB4XAvcXs5pO-5E-mXb_5SpqZHkn4AtUWcjXU]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Logos

The new year is just around the corner and so is the 9th anniversary of Marine Parents,
so we are celebrating with 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! [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5Afty5eUMWJfreGD-ECBjVuymlmRL7gxl-oPQK0HIg3llPW0i58tv0LWH-C13euU9R_LqMxm0jPrTiFwMTiIhpzcRoyQh0W6eF5A47wpzvHw64rZP3KCM61g11dXpx5nW7hXp5JvfNKJRIaG5JQuYiDui]

Marine Parents Social Icon [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AftAjssPXhKGY7KhXkH4ddPTgPhYHkwVnvvLEI_G6BH52mSgvcwPtMYzaVYZQEv3iSrZ--4-DpvX2LtrRd1O_bzO56SCn3_vVua00zyILZipS2Z_xRDyUsT8]
Marine Family Network Icon [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfvO68aw0YBKU_Aikd18Ih2jm8fJBrsgRGZ5b5GXN2_O30vwVy5tkC36hjLuD-0wLPtrQE54HoI6Q0svu5TWAMLFeWOPEJD-jLxbSwy5a7z24oU5A0akVwZJ]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Veterans Crisis Hotline

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.

If a hero or family member you know is in crisis, call the line at 1-800-272-8255
and press 1. Learn more on their website [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5Aftw0DyUUSofegOI_adaMRO3Esdpr7RH0rdaYQdrhMYwWn8EQyV3imTx-qxEGQTuNzKzTsjti6ZVtbpsJiKwTtNbh3Znhuc8VRf_IicRda4reS5Bfld-y-P3].
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Newsletter Signup

Or just text MARINEPARENTS to 22828 to sign up!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

January 11, 2012
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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'll let you know how you can become involved with outreach programs and developments
this year with Marine Parents, from joining Team Marine Parents to keep your Ooh-Rah
spirit healthy, to sponsoring a soup drive for our heroes overseas.
You'll also learn about activities that filled the end of the year, a variety of
online resources for your loved ones, and get to share memories with a special
Marine family!
Our Ninth Anniversary!
We hope your holiday season was beautiful and 2012 has started off well! This month,
we are celebrating our 9th anniversary, and can't wait to share many more with you,
supporting our heroes at home and overseas. Thank you for all you do!
God bless and Semper Fi!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Healthy New Year

Team Marine Parents Uses Fitness to Support Our Heroes!

Did you make a resolution to become healthier in 2012? Join Team Marine Parents,
where you can fulfill that resolution AND support our heroes in a variety of ways!

Hand cyclist, Josef Lopez, prepares for the 2011 Marine Corps Marathon.

Team Marine Parents is made of teams of individuals nationwide that participate
in walks, runs, bicycling, triathlons, swims, motorcycle runs, and other events
nationwide. They aim to promote an awareness of troop support around the United
States through participation in and donations to Marine Parents outreach programs.

We'd love to have more teams across the nation competing in events to raise community
awareness to support our troops and their loved ones! Click here [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5Afsp6TsQgmZHRvQi8uVBF7981UgfhD2QkqmM2bIfDstoDq5GFkHUuuqBcGmGKZWlGq29Sq7cerUTrjpT7h3Q9dhDCTSHIU5ZDNBAHajS0jzOWbiQAcTNurRRWL5zob7qU5s=]
to get involved and make 2012 a healthy, heroic year!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Group on Marine Family Network

Caregivers Group Supports Loved Ones

A new group has launched on our Marine Family Network for loved ones caring for
a wounded or ill service member. This group aims to support those

whose Marine is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as any other
illnesses or injuries that occurred during their loved one's active-duty service.
The Caregivers group is private, meaning you must request to join the group, which
keeps it more focused on supporting your needs and what you wish to discuss. We
aim for this group to help many loved ones who are in need of answers, as well as
a reminder that they are not the only one conquering challenging times.

Find out more about this group. [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfvKELeeVYivFGyWjTDtonKBp5cmVYA5S96AC2YLjTv-wFe_uy1bTLthRKSsg9LLkmW_bpiRXffs2_0YbL_L_S6BywfBPmGPRrmpPA6wTE_GOaGWugJk0JMu-2Q4xHKMtGrZhTyRR7JsMw==]

Not familiar with Marine Family Network (MFN) yet? MFN is a free, volunteer-run
social media site available for loved ones of our heroes to keep them updated and
involved. It's your "front porch" to come and sit with a warm blanket to talk with
your Marine family. Join here today! [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfvO68aw0YBKU_Aikd18Ih2jm8fJBrsgRGZ5b5GXN2_O30vwVy5tkC36hjLuD-0wLPtrQE54HoI6Q0svu5TWAMLFeWOPEJD-jLxbSwy5a7z24oU5A0akVwZJ]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Souper Heroes Drive

We Still Need Your Help!

Our winter soup drive is still going on to keep our Marines overseas warm this season!
Sponsor a Rich and Hearty Chicken and Homestyle Noodle Progresso soup from the EGA
Store, and we'll send it to our deployed Marines in our Care Packages on January
21, 2012. We hope to include two soups in each of our 1,200 Care Packages!

The pop-top soups are a convenient way for our men and women to get a warm, hearty
meal. The 19 ounce cans don't require water, so they can simply be heated and eaten
whenever the Marine needs it. The quality ingredients in Progresso will keep our
heroes full and satisfied, while providing them with a little reminder of home.
Click to help!.. [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfvG7xCPAzigbHovs4pFh9JD272IOOYcM8BGIV51C6w3hUzk4An9DMteFAhlxx683dnMkf2y2pnXiiBsNFkyyaHY8hf07IK1yeV0hkLs7DyEokLXyD294fn4TaMo6FQqlWqE-eHwSAIVDw==]

More information on the Care Package Project... [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfvkjFjxr8WM1PHpCcYzgjHCBOmjFS0ERfP4ZtmUOwpZaLmfZUkO48NLiwNIk6IYPU7zw1ALhBay4Qe5lDjMrirtBE6lpq096mO7wj60JuCY3vnHUTEr6Iqe-nQeqeDOiwI=]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hearts of Valor Ball

Registration Open for February 11th Event

The Heart of a Marine Foundation is preparing for their

patriotic celebration of our military and veterans. The Hearts of Valor Ball is
their signature fundraising event, traditionally hosting over 400 active duty military,
veterans, and civilians.

The evening will feature:

* Military ceremonial presentations
* Dinner
* Open beverage stations
* Dancing
* Silent and Live auctions
* Valet parking

This year's keynote speaker is decorated former Navy SEAL and U. S. Army Ranger
Qualified Lieutenant Jason Redman. He has dedicated his life to the service of his
country since joining the Navy in 1992. Jason was seriously wounded while deployed
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, but uses his experiences as a severely wounded
service member to motivate others and to continue to raise awareness of the sacrifices
of America's military forces and their families.

Click here to learn more... [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfsUpCqyDzDGtu7U3dcme4eIz2ApXSFP4FGoYOZguDRsDlFACq8SPGDw3E6y6E6jDKG2iV_ELPJXZcNrFc2E-Tju2gZBwIEXv6sKWA-6fOPgfCdcPBShOZ3Q43_UDjSuu4z0bX0NU7k-mw==]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ooh-Rah Family

Family Supports Grandson Overseas

We recently received a picture of a Marine family wishing to send a big Ooh-Rah
to their grandson and cousin, Benjamin, a 1st Lt. in the Marine Corps. For over
forty years, the D____ family has vacationed together, and this year Benjamin was
greatly missed as he's currently stationed in Afghanistan. As you can tell by the
picture, his family missed him on vacation, but sport their matching shirts from
the EGA Store to support him! His grandmother, Pauline, says "We pray daily for
Benjamin and his entire battalion, as well as all servicemen and women. We are
most grateful for your prayers as well."

Our prayers are always with your family, Benjamin, and all our heroes! Semper Fi!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Volunteers Reflect

Camp Pendleton Memorial Service for 1/5

The following link takes you to a beautiful reflection on the memorial service held
at Camp Pendleton on November 4,

2011, for the Marines of 1/5 who recently returned from

Afghanistan. These accounts are an incredible reminder of the sacrifices given for
our freedom, and the freedom of all good people. Our men and women Marines are heroes,
and we honored to be a part of what they're fighting for. God bless our military
men and women now and always.

Read the reflections... [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfvB7bGdG315iCzZOkTrnHG-D8HPQFT2339WgniKRLhpDkVChSidOERYSKElbQQmWFw9ftnd1Xi-l1wTPrMGRaiVCoPL8sRp246_keUoZjkM3ZfhkbsLgCKc4wqXGexcMmOMoa6cqLzlk17tQZBjDDM9GNOkrLeoR8pZW4U7uPSFfQH7sLr_xAe_SbQaMOOqMmYqy-v9Upia10vO-6jEeiiBLEf8tQrVscg=]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marine Corps Social Media Handbook

Reminders for Communicating Online

The Marine Corps recently released a handbook to help Marines and their loved ones
communicate online effectively, while keeping safety and core values in mind. The
handbook notes that "

Throughout the Marine Corps' history, people have discussed, debated and embraced
the United States Marine Corps and our Marines. These discussions continue today
through online conversations and social networks. The Corps recognizes the importance
of participating in these conversations and has a basic set of social media principles
to help empower Marines and our community to participate in the discussion as better
communicators and improved representatives of our Corps."

Click here to learn more... [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AfteJ6sGJq045guDyYmSz7E01bkrDRUFfRmuh8JoQv3ySSJAv1uU36bmFT5JLB2K28MfcOuzzi8BgOl1jDVTkwTuNjxeKpGSrk6AaapLoKx3UtgbX0Ri2tT7xhDgpqjTHtMxe13YZ8EWV5HW2NlXz0GI]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Corporate Office Blood Drive on January 17th

Did you know that someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds? You
can help save lives by donating at the Marine Parents corporate office in Columbia,
Missouri on Tuesday, January 17, 2012!

Our goal is to collect 20 pints of blood, which could help over three patients that
need heart surgery or one burn victim. The blood drive will take place from 10:00
a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at our office, 3208 Lemone Industrial Blvd, Columbia, Missouri.

Learn more and register!.. [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5Afvt9dnwcCeAGr3kjK6TaubW__S4z8w5Oonk5fHLG9WbwvGecWRLi8Vb-hisEZSITQzGsCggsmKlo64fW_ugbtvAgSxu1BoU4qi2ahKsVfH08OAg4JvilGP_iS-VrcKzIacEY10IlFQ1Yzp6unIxnRinMMhybUoy6D4=]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Purple Heart Family Support Dinners

Christmas Meals for Heroes and Families

The holiday season inspired the Purple Heart Family Support volunteers as they prepared
meals for our wounded Marines on both the east and west coasts in December.

At the Walter Reed National Military Center in Bethesda,

Maryland, volunteers brought a delicious variety of holiday foods, along with decorations
and small gifts to cheer the heroes and their families. While o

n the west coast at the Naval Medical Center, volunteers delighted families with
everything from special awards and letters to heroes from school kids, to an early
visit from Santa! It was quite the holiday season with Purple Heart Family Support.
Read the full stories... [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5Afv8RUo7MD9SYV0gXvfroUsRvhZElExSEPuq08WUjyKJr3DesHXtM0HgKVyB18ppxBbZeK1UEANYx4wZ7bpqq3RSu14y8ioqqS5Z0NCS_jfHA5M_Snlm0MdoTMGXiDaMGJlVUWGOw80Q7w==]

Learn more about Purple Heart Family Support... [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5Afsi77wDZb6PRa1ecIsNH2c0z2BDbkvG2Q5ldYVr6JgxdRytYcx8_QKO4yjgwbgUEoCIhnoTm5uqRZveKePdUtBDjnFtQhgKq_I0X-d05Q8dTPtVWgQ7ALrpQjwIN6dVQ_2S70vcjI07Ig==]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

eMarine.org

Online Communication for Marines and Their Families

eMarine.org launched September 1, 2011, and is a more safe, secure, and central
reference point for information from family readiness officers to Marine families.
The new technology combines user-friendly interfaces with social media features
like chat and mobile internet accessibility, to ensure our heroes and their loved
ones can concisely exchange the information they need.

Unit family readiness officers choose the content that is disclosed, as well as
whom it is disclosed to, making it extremely safe for Marines and their families
to use. Unit-specific information is available, as are custom calendars, and details
about everything from job hunting and unit transitioning, to chaplains and base
information is offered.

Click here for details! [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5Afv5lWA7FvVbE3YFzb3NcOtQyCUJaLAlDxgde8y0dKYN1RIJ2SZGC-Bg2LBG1EyrFwV_Ss1yehq4bmDe0sj4mAmCbvVtmUY95SxUPK9drsCHMAXOLWH8EFEaTuc5cDkyL2P9vsafvbufQQ==]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

Nominations for the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Awards

On behalf of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense
agency that promotes a culture in which all American employers support and value

their employees' military service, we are asking for your help spreading the word
about an award. Each year, ESGR honors 15 employers across the Nation with the Secretary
of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest honor given by the U.S. government
to employers for providing exceptional support to their Guard and Reserve employees.

Now through Jan.16, 2012, Guard and Reserve service members, or a family member
acting on their behalf, are encouraged to nominate their supportive employers for
this prestigious award. We ask that as a valuable member of a military support organization,
you please help us reach as many service members and their families as possible
to inform them of this important
opportunity.

Click here to learn more... [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5AftOXhhJYMI78xf-64MgawWaY6U5C3SAVRBc_q7DC0Tu1CPHT8kHVu73ajn3Ar_49bWKUGpEdpABJ24UQ2fkiMIgvbwkI48A8CZcg00zhBVFFhMJqSR_PSdk28mGJXE-z6Q62sG6e1mbH77hLpao7xED]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

The photo at the top is a New Year's Eve 2011 photo from marines.mil of the 11th
Marine Expeditionary Unit being entertained with karaoke to ring in 2012 aboard
the USS Makin Island. For more photo credits, click here [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&et=1109042119394&s=60280&e=0016eNKCxk5Afvd3vW-Q1_k3Lyy7CUugUrepKytN3np9TVF-fGW5gi513aZDYV_ml-8zN8sJ_fk-JVrCwwH5dVqoZjLfPS2UW4SzyZ9nimfx1Yxr3hNyGspT4TS114OzirrK_SBpTMpke_QRT71XX5_oPMogWg6PG1rpLoYJzfVDSP5k9nSlkHTJpquaLRLPQzhwEmZvsPs_fBQmhx5nIZDPuBOdIoMAEoWH4CSFrpz0JXtVJ-cIu58Nv7qqhFisVS-Qvz5TZlOSxa9R8DcODt1UVYOc7DL0WWZQMp9Bck9nNk=].

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(TM) 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(TM).

God Bless and Semper Fidelis,

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Forward email
http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?llr=qovdcsbab&m=1101191566800&ea=ignoble.experiment@arconati.us&a=1109042119394

This email was sent to ignoble.experiment@arconati.us by newsletter@marineparents.com.

Update Profile/Email Address
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=oo&mse=001LJMCW0I5jW38Hm5WuXbwc1F32BFZj1RaEE4iyjCqbho%3D&t=0012rVHO-e3aDpFdtNmOppyNg%3D%3D&lang=001FCSs65SMrsI%3D&reason=001y5KaVlBn7_Y%3D&llr=qovdcsbab

Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe(TM)
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&mse=001LJMCW0I5jW38Hm5WuXbwc1F32BFZj1RaEE4iyjCqbho%3D&t=0012rVHO-e3aDpFdtNmOppyNg%3D%3D&lang=001FCSs65SMrsI%3D&reason=001y5KaVlBn7_Y%3D&llr=qovdcsbab

Online Marketing by
http://img.constantcontact.com/letters/images/CC_Footer_Logo_New.png
http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=

MarineParents.com, Inc. | P O Box 1115 | Columbia | MO | 65205