Remembering 9/11 - 20 Years Later

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September 11 marks the anniversary of the single largest loss of life from a foreign attack on American soil, ever. Almost 3,000 people lost their lives on that Tuesday morning, and over 7,000 brave Americans have sacrificed everything in the resultant military operations.

For Families of Fallen Marines

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Our condolences, prayers, and thoughts go out to the family members of the Marines and Sailor, who died during the tragic AAV incident off the coast of San Diego on July 30, 2020.

Rebuild for Sue Fundraiser Success

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The generosity and support of the Marine Parents family truly is amazing! Because of YOU, we were able to raise $11,101.68 for Marine Mom Sue, blowing past our goal of $10,000!

Sue has asked that we extend her heartfelt appreciation to all of the Marine Corps families who donated to help her rebuild. Watch the video of our virtual presentation of the check to Sue.

Rebuild For Sue

a Marine Mom Whose Home was Destroyed when the Edenville Dam Collapsed in Michigan

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Please donate today to help "Rebuild for Sue." Our goal is to raise $10,000. Sue's home was very humble; two bedrooms, a single bath, and a carport.

Sue Balcirak, a Marine Mom, lost her home in Sanford, Michigan, to flooding. If you're like most people in America, you may not have even known that hundreds lost their homes when a Michigan dam failed in May this year. To date, there is no federal aid, and Sue did not have flood insurance. She's required to continue to pay the mortgage on a home that no longer exists.

Memorial Day: Reflection, Remembrance, and Honor

Added May 25, 2020

Monday, May 25, 2020, is Memorial Day, a day dedicated to honoring and remembering American service members, past and present. We encourage everyone to take some time that day to reflect on the sacrifices that have been being made on a daily basis for more than two centuries by those who protect our freedoms and way of life around the world.

EGAshop Interface Offline

Added April 23, 2020

We apologize for the inconvenience. We're doing maintenance on the EGA Shop and our donation interface and are getting an upgrade! We'll be offline from Friday, April 24, 2020 at 3:00 pm Central Time through Monday, April 27, 2020 at 3:00 PM Central Time.

We won't be able to process orders or take online donations during this maintenance time, however, you can still shop and make donations on our secured server until 3:00 PM on Friday, April 24, 2020! Click here to donate. Or Click here to shop now.

TMP Donation Interface Offline

Added April 23, 2020

We apologize for the inconvenience. We're doing maintenance on our donation interface and are getting an upgrade! We'll be offline from Friday, April 24, 2020 at 3:00 pm Central Time through Monday, April 27, 2020 at 3:00 PM Central Time.

You can still make donations on our secured server until 3:00 PM on Friday, April 23, 2020! Click here to donate.

Real-Time Chat with Marine Families

Added April 3, 2020

Now you can chat in real-time with other Marine and recruit family members!

Our OPENING night is Sunday, April 5, 2020, and will be for ALL STAGES. Regardless of which stage your Marine or recruit is, EVERYONE is invited to attend opening night.

We have established a firm foundation of volunteers, and with COVID-19, we are not able to hold brick-and-mortar meetings in our states and local communities. Our hope is that the chat rooms can help to establish a personal connection by participating in real-time connections with volunteers and members.

We hope to hold SPECIAL CHAT TIMES hosted by volunteers for states, regions, local communities, and perhaps even invite recruiters for a poolee chat.

The chat room will be open for two hours a night during the evenings as noted for each time zone below:

• 8-10 PM Atlantic Time
• 8-10 PM Eastern Time
• 7-9 PM Central Time
• 6-8 PM Mountain Time
• 5-7 PM Pacific Time

These are uncertain times, but we will continue to find ways to support you through this journey and pass along the information you need for Marine or recruit's stage in the corps. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!

VA Telehealth

Added February 26, 2020

The VA is using technology to update how it provides health care to veterans. Telehealth is giving veterans an alternative to driving long distances to get to their VA medical facility.

WE HAVE YOUR 45th MARINE CORPS MARATHON BIB! SIGN UP TODAY!

Added February 13, 2020

DO NOT WAIT TO REGISTER FOR YOUR BIB FOR THE 45th MCM!

We have secured 50 charity partner bibs for the Marine Corps Marathon this year and we currently only have 47 left! Register NOW; don't wait for the lottery! You don't want to miss this chance to be part of the HUGE 45th ANNIVERSARY run! Visit http://www.teammarineparents.com/mcm-info.asp to reserve and register for your bib today! We can't wait to see you in DC!

*By reserving a charity partner bib through MarineParents.com you agree to join Team Marine Parents and fundraise a minimum of $500 for the charity programs of the organization.

**If you are new to a fitness program, please check with your doctor before getting started.

WST-East Call to Volunteer

Added February 4, 2020

We are currently looking for volunteers to work on-site serving dinners at the USO near Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. You can read more about this volunteer position through the following link on our website: http://warriorsupportteam.com/volunteering-east.asp.

If you or someone you know lives in the area and are interested in volunteering with WST-East, please fill out the application through the following link: https://marineparents.com/contact/application.asp. Be sure to check the box for WST-East to ensure the application is processed more efficiently.

Thank You for Supporting Our Warriors!

Added January 3, 2020

Thank you for your generosity and support during our End of Year Donations campaign! Because of YOU, we were able to raise $12,550 before midnight on New Year's Eve!

Every donation submitted before midnight on December 31st is tax-deductible from your 2019 income tax return. What's most important is that all of you have directly supported warriors everywhere! One hundred percent of your donation will go directly towards helping warriors in need. Even if you weren't able to donate, simply spreading awareness of this campaign has made it possible for us to reach people across the country.

If you would still like to make a donation to support warriors, you can do so by clicking the link below.

None of this would have been possible without YOU!! Thank you, and God Bless!

Semper Fi!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from MarineParents.com!

Added December 25, 2019

As 2019 comes to an end, we'd like to wish the Marine Parents family a happy holiday season and a Merry Christmas. Nothing we do would be possible without you, and we truly appreciate all that you do on behalf of our organization and on behalf of our men and women in uniform. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for some of the work you helped us accomplish with our outreach programs this year.

Happy Thanksgiving from MarineParents.com!

Added November 28, 2019

The mission of MarineParents.com, Inc., is to provide support, information, and services to Marines and their family members, and create opportunities for the public to support our troops through the organization's outreach programs. We are truly honored and thankful that we have been able to fulfill this mission for almost 17 years and it would not have been possible without YOU.

False Open-Source "Hire Military Heroes"

Added October 15, 2019

The Marine Corps has made an announcement on their website that they've found a fake veteran website attempting to take advantage of Americans who may be seeking a job, especially military veterans. "Hire Military Heroes" is the fake website and is very similar to the legitimate web service from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, "Hiring Our Heroes."

Tricare Rates to Rise in 2020

Added July 30, 2019

Tricare rates are exptected to rise in 2020. This will impact reservists, young adults, and transitioning service member enrolled in Tricare or a transition health insurance plan. An enrollment change could also cause users to pay more up front. Tricare has released the 2020 rates for the Tricare Reserve Select (TRS) and Tricare Retired Reserve (TRR) programs, as well as for the Tricare Young Adult and Continued Health Care Benefit Programs with the main difference being an increase in prices..

Veterans United Foundation - Dunks for Dollars Donation

Added July 16, 2019

Veterans United Home Loan employees participated in an employee engagement event, Dunks for Dollars, this past week. In an effort to further support some of our great local organizations, employees spun a wheel for local charities, and if dunked, that amount of money was donated through Veterans United Foundation. It was a fun way to stay cool on a hot summer day, but the highlight was seeing the excitement of the employees when some of their favorite organizations won money from the event.

Snowcone Fundraiser for Travel Assistance

Added June 27, 2019

What could be more motivating than the story of three young cousins of a newly-minted Marine holding a snowcone fundraiser for the Travel Assistance program? Learn how you can help with the program and continue with their fundraiser!

Fleet Groups on Facebook

Added June 27, 2019

Join our Facebook groups for Marine family members and Marines stationed in specific locations.

Luminary Initiative

Added June 27, 2019

Gold Star Family Day is the last Sunday of September, the 29th. A day to remember those who sacrificed so much for their friends and families. Visit the website to learn how you can honor our Gold Star Family members.

CRL Books for Marine Corps Units

Added June 27, 2019

MarineParents.com, Inc. has hundreds of books from the Commandant's Reading List (CRL). We want to give them away to Marine Corps units to use in their unit library. This is an outreach service to get reading material from the CRL into the hands of Marines. We will give $300 in book value to each unit requesting books as long as the inventory lasts.

Marine Corps Marathon Bibs Still Available!

Added June 24, 2019

June 24, 2019, WE STILL HAVE BIBS and there's still time to join Team Marine Parents! Whether you're the family member of a Marine or the supporter of the Marine Corps, we welcome you to join our team this year.

The VA Mission Act

Added June 19, 2019

The VA Mission Act is designed to improve access for veterans to healthcare at the VA. It addresses in-network and non-VA healthcare issues, veterans' homes, access to walk-in VA care, prescription drug procedures, and much more.

There have been some updates with the Mission Act. Beginning June 6, 2019, veterans will have more ways to access health care. This access not only includes providers within the VA's network but also with approved non-VA medical providers in your community, called "community care providers."

Warrior Support Team Dinner: June 20, 2019

Added June 20, 2019

On Thursday, June 20, MarineParents.com and the Warrior Support Team will host a free dinner for active duty/reserve service members and their family in the Liberty Center at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA starting at 1700.

Texas Center Point Veterans Services

Added April 3, 2019

Center Point's Texas Veterans Program provides outreach, assessment of needs, vocational readiness training, housing assistance, job placement and referrals to job skills training programs for homeless Veterans in the Austin area. Through funding provided by the U.S. Department of Labor at risk Veterans may access an array of services that significantly improve their quality of life.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer Policy Change

Added July 20, 2018

On July 12, 2018 the Department of Defense issued a policy change for the transfer of Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits by service member to eligible family members.

Eligibility to transfer education benefits will be limited to service members with less than 16 years of total service (active duty or selected reserves). There were no previous restrictions for when a service member could transfer education benefits to a family member. The previous policy required a service member to have a minimum of six years of service in order to apply to transfer their education benefits to a family member. That provision remains unchanged in the new policy.

Service members who fail to fulfill their service obligation due to circumstances outside their control will retain their eligibility to transfer education benefits to family members. An example of such circumstances would be an officer or staff non-commissioned officer being involuntarily separated after being passed over for promotion twice.

Although this change has been issued, the policy will not go into effect until July 12, 2019.

Open Burn Pit Registry

Added May 9, 2018

Military sites in Iraq and Afghanistan have often used burn pits as a way to dispose of waste. While research does not currently show that there are long term health effects from exposure to burn pits the VA continues to research this topic.

There have been reported effects to the skin, eyes, respiratory and cardiovascular systems, gastrointestinal tract and internal organs due to the toxins from burn pit smoke. Veterans who were exposed to the burn pits for longer periods of time may be at greater risk. Most of the irritation, such as eye irritation and burning, coughing and throat irritation, are temporary and will resolve once the veteran is no longer exposed to the burn pits. According to a 2011 Institute of Medicine Report, those deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq are at greater risk to respiratory illness due to the high levels of fine dust and pollution than to exposure to burn pits.

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

Added March 1, 2018

Brain Injury Awareness Month was established in 2005 to increase public awareness of brain injuries and to address the needs of persons living with brain injuries, their family members, and caregivers. CDC defines a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury. Injuries may result from blasts in combat, motor vehicle accidents, falls, flying objects, or assaults. According to the DoD, there have been 375,230 service members diagnosed with TBI since 2000.

Give a Warrior a Break - Super Bowl Style!

Added January 23, 2018

On our 15th anniversary of supporting Marines and their family members, we need YOUR help to raise $8,000. This is your opportunity to give wounded, ill, and injured warriors a sense of normalcy and a break from their day-to-day struggles with healing. On February 4th, we have been asked to host a 2018 Super Bowl party for 150 service members and their families at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. We need your help to fund the party.

15 Year Anniversary

Added January 18, 2018

We are pleased to announce that Sunday, January 21, 2018, is the 15th anniversary of the founding of MarineParents.com, Inc.

In the 15 years since Founder & Executive Director Tracy Della Vecchia began MarineParents.com in her home, much has changed with the organization. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is our dedication and commitment to supporting Marine family members through all stages of their Marine's career in the Corps and providing "a Place to Connect & Share"® for recruit and Marine family members.

Help Us Reach $10,000 on Giving Tuesday

Added November 28, 2017

In November we have one day for giving thanks, two for getting deals, and now we have a day to give back. Be a part of this global celebration of generosity and giving back by joining Marine Parents on November 28 as we make it a happy holiday season for our Marines.

This Thanksgiving, we are thankful for YOU

Added November 23, 2017

The holiday season is officially upon us, and we'd like to begin it by wishing the Marine Parents family a Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you enjoy this special time of year with your family, friends, and loved ones. For those of you who won't be able to celebrate the holiday with your Marine this year, we want you to know that we appreciate the sacrifice your Marine and family are making on our behalf. We would also like to take this time to say how thankful we are for you supporting our outreach.

We are thankful for you reading our newsletters, for spreading awareness of our outreach programs, and for donating to our fundraisers. We are thankful for you telling us about the needs of Marines and their family members. We are thankful that, because of you, we are able to help these families in need.

Thank You, Veterans!

Added November 11, 2017

Today, November 11, is Veterans Day and here at Marine Parents, we'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of America's veterans, past and present, for the sacrifices they've made on behalf of a grateful nation.

While MarineParents.com, Inc. may not be as large as some of the other military-based organizations you may be familiar with, what we lack in size, we make up for in consistency. For almost 15 years now, we've made it our mission to provide support, information, and services to our men and women in uniform, as well as their family members.

Happy Birthday Marines!

Added November 10, 2017

Today, November 10, marks the 242nd birthday of the Marine Corps and tomorrow, November 11, is Veterans' Day. Generations of heroic men and women have sacrificed their time, their energy, their comfort, and, in many cases, their lives to protect the freedom we as Americans value so dearly.

With that in mind, we at Marine Parents would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank You" to our men and women in uniform, past, present, and future. Happy Birthday Marines!

November is Warrior Care Month

Added November 2, 2017

Established by former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates in November 2008, the Department of Defense has designated November as Warrior Care Month. The goal of Warrior Care Month is to increase awareness of the resources available to wounded, ill, and injured service members, as well as their family members and caretakers.

How September 11 Led to the Foundation of MarineParents.com, Inc.

Added September 11, 2017

September 11 marks the anniversary of the single largest loss of life from a foreign attack on American soil, ever. Almost 3,000 people lost their lives on that Tuesday morning, and almost 7,000 brave Americans have sacrificed everything in the resultant military operations.

Rarely does an event have such wide-reaching and impactful consequences, but no one in our country was able to escape September 11, 2001 unscathed in some way. In the 16 years since, we have become more acutely aware of our place in the world and of the fact that many people want to cause us harm solely for being American. We've changed how we view the world and how the world views us. Ensuring our national security became a national obsession (and for good reason) and saw our military engage in conflicts in two countries, first in Afghanistan, and then in Iraq, in an effort to do just that. In short, September 11 upset the balance of the country in a way not seen in decades.

Wounded Marine Handcrafts Marine Mom Necklace

Added May 2, 2017

When the EGA Shop first revealed the Marine's Heart Pendant necklace and announced that it was handcrafted by Marine Corps veterans, the unique piece of jewelry gained significant attention.

Randy served on active duty from 1968 - 1972 and leads the business on a daily basis, providing instruction and direction for the apprenticeship program. He's a master jeweler and brings over 35 years of custom fine jewelry experience to assist in all steps from design to presentation.

May is Military Appreciation Month!

Added May 1, 2017

In 1999, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution designating May as National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM). NMAM began as a simple idea - to honor, remember, recognize, and appreciate those who serve and have served our great nation.

Marine Parents Celebrates 14 Years of Service

Added January 21, 2017

We are pleased to announce that January 21, 2017, marks the 14th anniversary of the founding of MarineParents.com, Inc.

In the 14 years since Founder & Executive Director Tracy Della Vecchia began MarineParents.com in her home, much has changed with the organization. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is our dedication and commitment to supporting Marines through all stages of their career in the Corps and providing "a Place to Connect & Share"® for recruit and Marine families.

Merry Christmas from MarineParents.com

Added December 25, 2016

As 2016 comes to an end, we'd like to wish the Marine Parents family a happy holiday season. Nothing we do would be possible without you, and we truly appreciate all that you do on behalf of our organization and on behalf of our men and women in uniform. Your unwavering support is the reason Marine Parents has been around for almost 14 years, and we look forward to seeing what 2017 has in store!

Happy Memorial Day

Added May 30, 2016

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

While MarineParents.com, Inc. may not be as large as some of the other military-based organizations you may be familiar with, what we lack in size, we make up for in consistency. For more than 13 years now, we've made it our mission to provide support, information, and services to our men and women in uniform, as well as their family members.

When American troops first entered Iraq in 2003, we were there. When the government shutdown in 2013 and military families temporarily weren't receiving death benefits, we were there. In the 10-year interim between those events, and in the three years since the shutdown, we've been there, providing several million dollars in direct support of thousands of Marines and their family members.

Whether it's been serving meals to recovering warriors, providing financial assistance to military families, or helping troops and their family members through difficult times in other ways, we're here. Day in and day out, we're doing everything in our power to support our men and women in uniform and their family members.

Transitioning Out of the Corps

Added March 3, 2016

Transitioning from military to civilian society life can be a challenge, particularly for veterans who have experienced combat or other traumatic events during a deployment.

There are, however, a variety of factors that can help ease this transition, perhaps the most important one being the willingness to take the first step toward committing to recovery.

Click here to read more...

Sesame Street for Military Families Website

Added November 20, 2015

The Sesame Workshop and the Department of Defense's National Center for Telehealh & Technology announced this week that they've partnered to launch a new website for military and Veteran Families.

The website and mobile app feaure the beloved Sesame Street Muppet™ characters and both are inteded to help preschool military and Veteran children cope with issues, including the deployment of a parent, moving/relocating, and the injury or death of a parent, among others. Additional content on the website includes the highly successful "Talk, Listen, Connect" multimedia resource, as well as the "Feel Electric!" and "The Big Moving Adventure" applications.

Click here to visit the websit today!

Dog Tag Bakery

Added November 16, 2015

For wounded service members, finding a productive place in society can be challenging. Josh Tredinnick is the most recent graduate of Dog Tag Bakery, a Georgetown business with a unique way of putting combat vets to work.

Click here to learn more

Marine Corps News: Marine Corps Times Announces Annual List of Best Colleges and Universities for Veterans

Added November 13, 2015

The Marine Corps Times has recently released its annual list of best colleges and universities for military veterans.

The schools were divided into three different categories: Two-year schools, four-year schools, and online/non-traditional schools.

The rankings are based on the results of and feedback from a 120-question survey and, "...data from the Veterans Affairs Department, Defense Department, and three Education Department databases for information on everything from veteran-related policies to average salaries after graduation."

Happy Veterans Day!

Added November 11, 2015

Today, November 11, is Veterans Day and here at Marine Parents, we'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of America's veterans, past and present, for the sacrifices they've made on behalf of a grateful nation. Thanks to the patriotic men and women who serve and have served our country, we, as Americans, are able to enjoy the freedoms and liberties we hold so dear. So once again, thank you for your service. We greatly appreciate it.

Veterans Day Discounts!

Added November 11, 2015

Each year, in honor of Veterans Day, a number of restaurants and businesses around the country offer free or discounted goods, services, and meals to both veterans and active-duty service members. To see a list of restaurants and businesses offering discounts this year, please click on the button below.

Click here to learn more

DoD Releases 2nd Quarter Suicide Figures

Added October 8, 2015

Suicides among active-duty service members rose by 20 percent in the second quarter of this year to 71, according to a new report released Wednesday, October 7, by the Department of Defense. The Marine Corps had the highest increase differential, 12 suicides, up from three the previous quarter's total of nine.

Click here to learn more

National Mental Health Awareness Week

Added October 5, 2015

October 4 - 10, 2015, is National Mental Health Awareness Week, and we at Marine Parents would like to take this opportunity to join organizations across the country in recognizing the occasion.

Since 1990, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, as well as participants across the country, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, have used the first full week in October to bring awareness to mental illness, as well as to fight stigmas which may be attached to mental illness, provide support for those suffering from mental illness, educate the public on mental illness, and advocate for equal care for those suffering from mental illness.

Click here to learn more about National Mental Health Awareness Week

Accelerated Learning Programs (ALP)

Added August 19, 2015

Are you interested in starting a career in information technology (IT)? Do you already have IT experience, but want to take it to the next level? If you answered "yes" to either of those questions, then a VA-sponsored accelerated learning program (ALP) may be right for you!

As a service member or veteran, you are eligible to participate in an ALP in IT at no cost to you, without using your GI Bill® benefits.