New Website

Lubbock Marine Parents now has a new website! Come by and visit us at lubbockmarineparents.org. We will eventually move the blog over, but for now we're staying right here.

We've also added a new program called Adopt a Medic (and added a new 2nd VP in charge of that program). Look for more info to come.

Construction begins on USS Jason Dunham

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Apr 21, 2008 7:57:14 EDT

A lot has changed for the parents of the late Cpl. Jason Dunham since he died in 2004, after saving two other Marines by throwing himself on an insurgent’s grenade in Karabilah, Iraq.

They visited the White House, where President Bush presented Dunham’s parents with his Medal of Honor on Jan. 11, 2007. They witnessed the naming of the post office in their hometown of Scio, N.Y., in his honor.

And they watched as their three other children continued to grow up, with one getting married, another starting college and the third becoming a teenager.

On April 11, Dan and Debra Dunham honored their hero son again, traveling to Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, to help as their two sets of initials were ceremonially welded into the keel of the future Navy destroyer Jason Dunham. The ceremony took place three days short of the fourth anniversary of the blast that claimed the Marine’s life.

“Even though we lost him and it still hurts, there’s a lot of pride,” said Debra Dunham, from her home after the ceremony. “The gift that he gave his brothers was truly that, a gift.”

The ship bearing Dunham’s name, DDG 109, will be an Arleigh Burke-class, guided-missile destroyer. One of two boats awarded to Bath in a $953 million contract, it will stretch 511 feet long, with room for 380 service members.

Deb Dunham, the ship’s sponsor, said the visit to Bath was uplifting, though she wishes dearly her Marine son could have lived past 22 and attended himself.

“The Marine Corps is a very tight and warm family, but Bath Iron Works had the same feel to it,” she said. “We went away with a sense of commitment and pride and warmth from what they’re doing.”

That warmth remains strong between the Dunham family and the late corporal’s comrades in Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. Several are in touch regularly, including the two other Marines who sustained serious injuries in the blast, Deb Dunham said.

Sgt. William Hampton, a lance corporal when Dunham died, got married and now has a baby girl. Kelly Miller, a private first class at the time, left the Corps and is in college, Deb Dunham said.

“I think it’d be fair to say we’ve adopted them into the family,” Dunham said of Kilo Company. “There’s not a guy that I couldn’t call, and they’d drop what they were doing and come and help us out.”

Several Marines recently offered her husband good-natured advice when they learned Dunham’s little sister, Katelyn, 15, had her first boyfriend, Deb Dunham said. The suggestion: Leave a gun in plain view to let him know who’s boss.

“They’re just as protective of my daughter as they would be of their sisters,” the mother said with a laugh. “They gave Dan a lot of suggestions to let her new boyfriend know that she had more brothers than he was probably aware of.”
Source

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

This is one of my favorite shows and it will be especially good this Sunday, February 10th at 8/7 central.

Daniel Gilyeat is a decorated U.S. marine and a loving father to his children, having served not one but two tours in Iraq. During the second tour he volunteered for, he was out on a mission when a bomb hit his truck. He suffered major injuries and lost his left leg above the knee. In addition, his marriage ended and he suddenly became a single father. As with many soldiers, deployment had put a huge stress on his marriage. But despite these setbacks and personal battles, 25 days after losing his leg, Daniel was up and walking with a prosthetic leg, and inspiring other wounded soldiers by visiting them in the hospital and speaking with their families. He tries to create a normal environment for his children and to take proper care of them, but household chores are difficult because the house is not handicapped accessible; it's nearly impossible for him to get around, as all the floors are uneven and the doors are very narrow -- he often has to rely on a wheelchair. What's more, the laundry is in the basement. Daniel's trying to rebuild his life, and one of the things he desperately needs is a safe home where he can raise his kids.

The guest star will be Miley Cyrus. Read more here.

A Boy’s Wish Made Real

Dontay Burton and Gunnery Sgt. William C. House watch Marines in a battalion formation run at Camp Lejeune in May 2007. During a Make-A-Wish Foundation visit in North Carolina, Burton toured Marine Corps Air Stations New River and Cherry Point, Camp Gieger, as well as Camp Lejeune.


Jan. 31, 2008; Submitted on: 01/31/2008 03:26:47 PM ; Story ID#: 2008131152647
By Capt. Paul L. Greenberg, Marine Forces Reserve


BROOKPARK, Ohio (Jan. 31, 2008) -- On Jan. 12, 2008, a warrior named Dontay Burton was laid to rest at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio. He was eight years old.

Reserve Marines from Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve here attended the funeral to pay their respects.

“All he ever wanted to be was a Marine,” said Lt. Col. Minter B. Ralston, the battalion inspector-instructor, who attended the service with Sgt. Maj. Carl L. Chapman, the battalion sergeant major.

Burton, diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic Leukemia in November 2006, was inspired to be a Marine by his grandfather, retired Marine First Sgt. Freddie Crawford, according to Ralston.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation coordinated with the U.S. Marine Corps to make Burton’s dream come true during his short lifetime.

On May 2, 2007, with his cancer in full remission, Burton set off from his home in Maple Hills, Ohio for Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he met up with his sponsor, Gunnery Sgt. William C. House.

House, who was an intelligence chief for 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division at the time, told a Marine Corps reporter, “Dontay is an inspiration to me and all the Marines that got to meet him during his visit to Camp Lejeune. His fighting spirit to not only live but to succeed will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

During his stay in North Carolina, Burton toured Marine Corps Air Stations New River and Cherry Point, Camp Gieger, as well as Camp Lejeune. His experiences included a ride in an M1A1 Main Battle Tank, shooting at an indoor marksmanship trainer, and “flying” in an F/A-18D Hornet Simulator.

“We may grant the wishes, but we also appreciate the tremendous generosity and assistance of the Marines in giving the wish kids such a terrific experience. Everyone really goes all-out for the kids when they visit,” said Brent Goodrich, the media relations manager for Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, based in Phoenix, Ariz.

Although he fought his cancer into remission for about two years, Burton passed away on Jan. 6, 2008 in a Cleveland, Ohio hospital from complications resulting from a bacterial infection.

House, who stated that he saw Burton “as one of my kids,” drove to Ohio from his current duty assignment at Marine Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., to help comfort the family in their grief. He was not able to stay for the funeral, but dressed Burton in a small Marine Corps camouflage uniform for the burial.

Although their time together was short, it was clear that the impact made by Dontay Burton and the Make-A-Wish experience will be long lasting.

“He showed the young Marines at 8th Marine Regiment that no matter what the obstacle, it will be O.K.” explained House. “Dontay never complained. He was a grown man at heart. He taught me that adversity, no matter what form it comes in, does not have to stop or even slow us down.”
Source

Thank You Note

This came from one of our Lubbock Marines who got some of our care packs that you helped us send this Christmas. We sent her a bunch of care packs for female Marines, but we forgot to mention that part to her. :)
She gave us permission to share this with you.

Wow! Thank you tremendously for all the care packages!!!
Everyone here loved all the Starbucks coffee. Sometimes I think that caffeine is all that gets me through my night shift :) (Midnight to noon every day). Oh and all the girls and I enjoyed getting stuff from Mary Kay :) ha ha It was the funniest thing watching some of the guys go through those boxes. They'd usually leave them alone because as soon as they saw tampons they were convinced it was the grossest thing ever(I'm talking about GROWN MARINE MEN, WITH WIVES BACK HOME!!!) None the less it was still hilarious...we all got a kick out of that. :)

We're pretty much counting the days here to leave and even though Christmas is the day after tomorrow we're eager for it to be over so we can go home already. This year long deployment has really made me appreciate the finer things in life. Ha
ha, which reminds me of what your son said about the shower facilities back on base...he is so right. I think the showers here are better because they're cleaned everyday by people from Turkey. :)

For Christmas all the Texas Tech fans and Virgina fans will be filming shout outs that will be filmed for the Gator bowl that's airing sometime in Jan. The shout outs are also going to be played throughout some of the commercials so be on the lookout for us :)

There's a Christmas run going on this morning. I'm thinking of participating in it at 7:15am and they're encouraging wearing Santa hats :) It's like 32 degrees out here but I might just run in a t-shirt and shorts for the fun of it. Bring on the holiday colds !!:)

Oh, and I didn't get any pictures but we just had our Christmas USO tour. It was pretty cool. Lance Armstrong, Miss USA, Kid Rock, Lewis Black, and Robin Williams came to cheer us all up. They were a hilarious group and gave a good show. I think the most memorable part was when I got to shake Robin Williams hand. He smiled big at me, said "Merry Christmas Kitten" and kissed me on the cheek. I don't think there's a nicer guy than him. Pretty cool Christmas memory...I wont forget that one! :)

Thanks again for everything sent. Everyone really appreciated everything, and some of those hygiene items will be going to kids who don't have toothbrushes and such because I have a couple more of those missions to knock out before I'm done with this tour. Let me just tell you EVERYTHING was put to good use. Thanks so much again!
Cpl Julia V

Surgeon fills his son’s boots in Iraq

By Don Cox - Reno Gazette-Journal via AP
Posted : Sunday Dec 9, 2007 10:07:40 EST

RENO, Nev. — Call Dr. William Krissoff’s office in Truckee, Calif., and a voice on the answering machine says he’s no longer seeing patients.

That doesn’t tell the whole story, not the important part. It doesn’t tell about Krissoff’s son, Nathan, a Marine from Reno killed in Iraq on Dec. 9, 2006. It doesn’t tell about Krissoff’s decision to become a Navy doctor and serve where the war is being fought.

Dr. William Krissoff, 61, an orthopedic surgeon who opened his Sierra Nevada practice in 1979, is now Lt. Cmdr. William Krissoff, a newly commissioned officer in the Navy Medical Corps who reports for duty this week, a year, almost to the day, after his son’s death.

“My goal is to work in a combat surgical unit, a forward unit,” said Krissoff, who got some help from President Bush to reach his objective.

That came on Aug. 28 when Bush was in Reno to address the national convention of the American Legion, the country’s largest group of military veterans. Bush also met privately with eight families of Marines and soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The group included Krissoff and his wife, Christine.

“We met with him for over an hour,” Krissoff said. “It was quite remarkable. It seemed he had all the time in the world. It was an emotional time for everybody.”

At one point, Bush went around the room, asking each family if there was anything they needed. Krissoff spoke up.

“I said, ‘I have something,”’ Krissoff said. “I said, ‘I want to serve in the Navy Medical Corps.”’

Before answering, Bush turned to Krissoff’s wife.

“He checked with her first,” Krissoff said. “He’s very sharp that way.”

Later, in an interview with the Grand Rapids Press in Michigan, where Krissoff grew up, Christine said, “I am not fine with the amount of time he’s gone. But none of the wives of the military people who serve are going to be fine with it. That’s just part of the deal.”

Krissoff doesn’t know where he’ll be assigned. But he’s training to perform surgery in a mobile field hospital in which wounded Marines receive quick attention.

“That’s been the innovation of medical care in Iraq,” Krissoff said. “There is sophisticated care within an hour, very close to the battlefield, if you will.”

Marine 1st Lt. Nathan M. Krissoff, 25, was killed outside Fallujah in Iraq when the vehicle in which he was riding was hit by a roadside bomb.

“The loss of a son puts a certain perspective on things,” William Krissoff told the Press. “It’s my turn to serve. I’m honored and privileged that the Navy will have me in the Medical Corps.”

The Marines use Navy doctors and nurses. That’s why William Krissoff joined.

“Marines don’t have their own physicians,” he said. “That’s what I’ll be doing. I will be assigned to a Marine unit wherever it goes. This was my goal.”

William Krissoff’s brother, Joel, who lives in Grand Rapids, wasn’t surprised.

“I think it’s something he wanted and needed to do,” Joel Krissoff told the Press. “He and Nate were extremely close. It helps him to deal with Nate’s being gone to get into this.”

Nathan Krissoff, who grew up in Reno, was a world-class kayaker, qualifying for the U.S. Junior National team with his younger brother Austin in 1998. Nathan graduated from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., where he was captain of the swim team.

He joined the Marines in 2004. So did Austin, shortly before Nathan was killed. Austin, 24, is now a second lieutenant, stationed at Camp Pendleton in Southern California.

“Because of my family association with the Marines,” William Krissoff said of his reasons for joining the Navy Medical Corps.

After Nathan was killed, William Krissoff was visited by his son’s commander, Lt. Col. Bill Seely.

“He was crossing the country, visiting families who lost Marines from his unit,” William Krissoff said. “He spent a couple days with us. He talked about their battalion surgeon. I thought, ’I’d really like to do that.”’

Despite his intentions, William Krissoff’s age could have been a problem.

“They don’t want to look at people over 40, maybe 50 at the outside,” he said. “I didn’t qualify. You need an age waiver. It’s usually a lengthy process.”

A year, typically.

“There are security clearances,” William Krissoff said. “It’s very involved.”

But he had the White House on his side. A year was cut to two months.

“I was lucky,” William Krissoff said.

After the meeting with Bush in Reno, Krissoff’s case was handled by Karl Rove, then the president’s top political adviser, who turned it over to Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

By November, Krissoff was in the Navy. He’s assigned to the Marine Corps’ 4th Medical Battalion. Rove sent a note of congratulations.

Krissoff is headed for training. He knows how to be a doctor. But there are some things he needs to learn.

“Setting up a field hospital,” Krissoff said. “Land navigation.”

He’s leaving town. He’s closed his practice. There’s a message on his answering machine. It doesn’t say enough.

Discounts for Marine Families Attending Homecomings

Marine Corps News November 20, 2007

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Families have spent thousands of dollars attending homecomings of returning Marines, but with costs of airfare sky rocketing, many families can’t afford to make the trip.

Addressing this issue, Christie Rooney, a Marine mom from Bixby, Okla., contacted America Airlines in order to ease these costs with fare discounts for Marine families, traveling to homecomings, discounts on airfare.

“Over the past few months, I've heard Marine families discuss the [difficulties] of making travel arrangements for homecomings,” said Rooney. “I decided to call America Airlines to see if they could help.”

Within two weeks America Airlines signed a contract with SATO Vacations to offer discounts to families traveling to their Marines’ homecoming from Nov. 1 – Dec. 15.

“The only airport that America Airlines flies into near the Camp Lejeune area is Raleigh-Durham Airport, which is why this is the only airport where we can honor the discounted prices for military families,” said Jerry Krus, for America Airlines.

If the arrival dates are changed and the military families notify America Airlines about the changes, the fee will be waived, as long as the families purchase their tickets through SATO Vacations, said Krus.

If America Airlines handles the exchange transaction, a $15 reservation fee will apply, he continued.

Marine families, who are unable to make the flight due to uncontrollable circumstances will be able to refund their non-refundable tickets for travel vouchers, concluded Krus.

For more information about the discounted airfare, call SATO Vacations at 1-877-698-2554, or visit the Web site at http://www.satovacations.com/.

Pictures From the Ball

We had a great time at the Marine Corps Ball Friday night. The ceremony was beautiful and the speaker did an awesome job. I was proud of myself that I didn't cry through the whole thing! There were 10 of us Lubbock Marine Parents in attendance and we were very honored to be invited.

Jury Awards Father Nearly $11 Million in Funeral Protesters Case

BALTIMORE — The father of a fallen Marine was awarded nearly $11 million Wednesday in damages by a jury that found leaders of a fundamentalist church had invaded the family's privacy and inflicted emotional distress when they picketed the Marine's funeral.

The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned later in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress to the Marine's father, Albert Snyder of York, Pa.

Snyder sued the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church for unspecified monetary damages after members staged a demonstration at the March 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq.

The defense said it planned to appeal and one of the church's leaders, Shirley Phelps-Roper, said the members would continue their pickets of military funerals.
Continue reading

This group is absolutely disgraceful! If the worst happened and one of them came to my son's funeral with a sign saying "thank God for dead soldiers" I would be hard pressed not to go ballistic. It really grieves me that they claim to be Christian.

Family gives stand-in doll honorable discharge

The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Oct 30, 2007 8:30:08 EDT

CUMBERLAND, Ohio — Now that he’s back home from Iraq, an Ohio Marine is learning all about the busy social life his two-dimensional twin led during his absence.

“Flat Brett” is a small, cardboard cutout doll of Lance Cpl. Brett Davis, made by one of his mother’s co-workers at Basic Systems Inc., an engineering and automation firm.

Carman Friday said she got the idea after learning that local schools were participating in the “Flat Stanley” project, in which students mail around a paper doll and keep a journal of its travels. The project was sparked by a children’s book with the same name.

In a similar vein, Flat Brett was photographed as he went around to family functions and was taken along on a business trip to Texas. The little guy with a round, smiling face and wearing construction paper camouflage and black boots even got to meet country singers Josh Turner and Josh Gracin when they performed at county fairs this summer near the Davis family’s home in this village about 70 miles east of Columbus.

The real Brett Davis, 23, who left for boot camp in October 2003, returned to town Saturday after completing his Marine enlistment following a seven-month deployment to Iraq earlier this year.

His mother, Connie Davis, said Monday that Flat Brett is resting now, inside a photo album of his adventures that’s now complete with a final picture of both Bretts together.
Source

Lifting for the fallen

Andrew Farrar Sr. attempts to break his own deadlift world record at the Amateur Athletic Union’s World Powerlifting Championships in Orlando, Fla., earlier this month. Farrar was lifting in memory of his son, Sgt Andrew Farrar Jr., who was killed in Iraq in 2005. Joining Farrar was Col. Richard Anderson, MCB Quantico’s Security Battalion commanding officer, who was the younger Farrar’s CO at the time of his death.

Oct. 26, 2007; Submitted on: 10/26/2007 02:09:52 PM ; Story ID#: 2007102614952

By Staff Sgt. F.B. Zimmerman, MCB Quantico

ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct. 26, 2007) -- Standing at five-foot, three-inches tall and weighing in at 120 pounds, 58-year-old Andrew Farrar Sr. is a giant in the sport of powerlifting.

While one wouldn’t think it by looking at him, he qualifies as such after breaking the Amateur Athletic Union’s deadlift world record for all raw categories of the 123-pound weight class during the World Powerlifting Championship at the Disney Sports Complex here recently. Farrar put up a staggering 162.5 kilograms (358.2 pounds) – nearly three times his body weight – without any assistance, not even a weight belt.

Setting a record of his own was Marine Corps Base Quantico’s Col. Richard Anderson, the commanding officer of Security Battalion, who deadlifted 242.5 kgs (534.6 pounds) to claim the top mark in the Military/Masters raw categories of the 198-pound weight class.

While both men have taken part in powerlifting competitions before, they met at this meet for one purpose: to honor Farrar’s son, Andrew Farrar Jr., who was killed in Iraq on Jan. 28, 2005. Farrar Jr. served under Anderson with the now deactivated 2nd Military Police Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, and was killed on his 31st birthday while on patrol in the Anbar province. He was electrocuted after running into a live high-voltage wire.

Since his death, Anderson has stayed in contact with his father, calling him every weekend to make sure the family was doing fine and to see if they needed anything.

‘‘The nightmare for these families is that their loved ones will be forgotten,” Anderson said, ‘‘and that’s not going to happen as long as I’m alive.”

During one of their many conversations, Farrar asked Anderson if he lifted, which he does. Farrar then told Anderson he was going to compete in the competition in memory of his son, and asked if he would like to compete. Anderson promptly replied, ‘‘If you do it, I’ll do it, too.”

Farrar said he has been lifting weights since high school, but gave it up for several years. When his three sons – Andrew Jr., Jason and Nathan - became a little older, he got back into the sport, lifting with his boys. He would even go to the gym at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and lift with Andrew Jr. whenever he would visit him there.

‘‘My sons and I found a tremendous amount of enjoyment lifting together,” said Farrar, whose family hails from Weymouth, Mass.

He said he was training for several years for a contest, and his dream was for Andrew Jr., who was on his second tour, to return from Iraq and serve as his spotter.

‘‘He was to come home about the same time as registration was due ... I never sent the registration in,” Farrar said with a tone of sadness in his New England accent. ‘‘I was really looking forward to him coming home because he had never been to one of my contests.”

This latest powerlifting competition was one of many for Farrar, but only the second since the death of his son. For Anderson, the competition was his eighth, and the first since 1998.

Before the lifting began, Farrar said his son was there.

‘‘I feel he’s with me all the time,” he said. ‘‘There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think and remember my son.”

As Farrar took off his warm-up clothes, chalking his strong, calloused hands for his first lift, it was evident Andrew Jr. was there.

Farrar was wearing a brown T-shirt with the words ‘‘Marine Dad” emblazoned on a printed expert marksmanship badge on the left chest that his son gave him after he graduated from recruit training, a yellow ribbon pin on the shirt, and on his left wrist a bracelet bearing son’s name. The most notable tribute was the blue singlet Farrar wore, which has his son’s name, date of his birth and death, location of his death, an Eagle, Globe and Anchor, and the phrase ‘‘Sacrifice with honor for freedom.”

Both Farrar and Anderson made their record-breaking lifts on their second attempt, and they both tried to break their own records on their third attempt, but couldn’t get the weights up. Farrar was visibly upset he didn’t hit his goal of 395 pounds, but Anderson and other competitors congratulated him on his accomplishment.

‘‘Mr. Farrar is a true American patriot,” Anderson said. ‘‘He’s supportive of the troops and the war ... he hasn’t lost his patriotic fervor. He’s honoring his son’s memory and the Marine Corps.”

Farrar and Anderson say they stay in contact via e-mail almost every day, but Anderson said he prefers the personal touch of phone calls.

‘‘Colonel Anderson has given me a tremendous amount of encouragement to keep going,” Farrar said. ‘‘It still helps to have him call every week. It’s difficult to stay focused – I was going to stop lifting.”

With possible knee replacement surgery looming, this was the probably the last competition for Farrar.

When asked what his son would say to him if he were at the meet that day, Farrar said, ‘‘His exact words would be, ‘You can do it, Dad.’”
Source

California Wild Fires

I know we have lots of parents and family members worried about how the Marines and recruits in Southern California are being affected by the fires. Here are some links to keep you up to date on what is going on. Let's keep praying!

Miramar

Camp Pendleton

MCRD (Recruit Depot) San Diego

Communicating with your Marine

When Marines are deployed or stationed overseas, it's always the first thing we moms worry about: how are we going to communicate with them? I am also often asked if phone cards can be donated to ship overseas to Marines. Here are some links to help answer those questions.

SemperComm Foundation
The SemperComm Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity founded to boost the morale of U.S. military personnel stationed at small, overseas remote bases by providing them with free communications and entertainment equipment, software and services.

Military Phone Card Donation Program
The Department of Defense announced today that any American can now help troops in contingency operations call home. The Defense Department has authorized the Armed Services Exchanges to sell prepaid calling cards to any individual or organization that wishes to purchase cards for troops who are deployed. The Help Our Troops Call Home program is designed to help service members call home from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Skype Internet Calls

AT&T Global Prepaid calling cards

Recharging the AT&T prepaid card

SPAWAR Calling Cards

MotoMail
US Navy, US Army & Air Force personnel co-located with US Marines are now eligible to receive MotoMails

San Francisco

This was in our inbox and I thought I would share it with you. Marine moms from all over the country are talking about this.

Hello friends in Lubbock. The local Marine Mom group here in the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania area is outraged at the City of San Francisco for not allowing our Silent Drill Team Marines to film a commercial in their city. We have been writing the Mayor of San Francisco and our local congressman to let them know how we feel. It would be great if your group would help us flood them with letters. Sample attached. Thanks and God Bless our Troops.

Jo
Proud Marine Mom

Dear Congressman Doyle, I'm writing to express my outrage at the City of San Francisco denying the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Team permission to film a commercial on a city street citing "traffic control issues" as their reason. They allowed the filming of the street but didn't allow the Marines to be filmed. The Marines will have to be superimposed at a later date. The City of New York allowed them to be filmed in Times Square during rush hour with no problems. This is another blatant slap in the face to our nation's military by the City of San Francisco. Following the City of San Francisco's previous denials of recruiters in schools, ROTC, the port use by our Navy vessels and the list goes on and on.

Yet the City of San Francisco is perfectly fine with allowing The 2007 Folsom Street Fair, which organizers promote as "fairgrounds filled with people in their most outrageous leather/rubber/fetish attire" is planned for Sunday on Folsom Street in San Francisco. The city will allow a street to be taken over for such an event but snubs our military's request to film a commercial? This is an event that decent people should parade in the streets to BAN from their city.

Oh, and another thing sir-the ad for the Folsom Street Fair? The one mocking the Last Supper - well - what if it had mocked the Muslim religion instead of Christianity? EVERY SINGLE member of both houses of congress would have been up in arms about this, trying to make amends. Ms. Pelosi even said that that ad was fine "an expression of free speech" . Why is it acceptable in America today to make light of the religion of millions and not one single congressman has the courage to stand up and say THIS IS WRONG!

I am the mother of a US Navy corpsman (combat medic) who has deployed to Iraq with the US Marines and I am the mother of an 18-year old Marine PFC. Our military and their families are strong groups, Mr. Doyle. We vote. We care about our sons and daughters. Congressional silence on these insults reinforces the belief that the members agree with what San Francisco did. I'm ashamed that my hard earned tax dollars are directed to a group of "representatives" who clearly have their own agenda and could care less about those who have volunteered to put their lives on the line for them.

A resolution should be put forth in Congress condemning this city and its attitude toward the military. If any city in the United States receives tax dollars they should be required to allow military presence. Sir - rest assured that the American voting public will exercise our rights on election days in the future and we have a LONG memory.
Respectfully, Ann Lauth

Marine Corps Ball Rules

The Marine Corps Ball is coming up soon and Lubbock Marine Parents has been invited. This advice is intended for wives and girlfriends of Marines, but some of it also goes for us parents. This was put together by a Marine wife.

The cardinal rules for a guest at the ball.

1. Don't dress like a skank. Most places, full length gowns
are the norm. Never go above the knee.
2. Don't wear a corsage or glitter. This is not your high
school prom.
3. Don't get hammered. Your behavior and appearance
reflect on your Marine.
4. Stand whenever the wives at the head table stand during
the ceremony.
5. Keep your mouth shut and LISTEN during the ceremony.
Whispering is rude, and there is a lot to be learned about the
Marine Corps culture during this important event.


Huge thanks to Anna for the following section!

One of the most frequently asked questions, aside from what
to wear, is what the Ball is all about. Why do they have it?
What is it about? Why are those guys standing up and why do
I have to stand up? So, before that wonderful date in
November, please read this and hopefully, it will help answer
a few of those questions.

Why Celebrate? History and Traditions and Semper Fi's

The Marine Corps Ball is a long held tradition with a single
purpose - to celebrate the birth of our beloved Corps way
back on November 10, 1775 in a bar known as Tun Tavern.
And while the official birthday of the Corps was not
recognized until 1921 (before then, it was celebrated without
honor in July), the emergence of a Marine Corps Birthday Ball
didn't start until 1925 at the insistence of Major Edwin
McClellan and wasn't formalized for many years to come.

It’s fairly obvious to the casual observer that the Birthday Ball
is an evening filled with wonderful uniforms, beautiful dresses
and the pomp and circumstance of an extremely formal event
(and, in most cases, lots of fun, camaraderie and liquor).
But for Marines, the Ball is only the icing on the cake.

For Marines, the Birthday is a time to reflect on those that
have worn the uniform, wear the uniform and will someday
be lucky enough to pin on an EGA. We remember those
Marines that paved the path for us and paid the ultimate
sacrifice for our beloved Country and Corps. This love and
reverence for our history is often seen during the Ball as
Marine's dress up in period uniforms and regale stories from
the battles we fought long ago. We listen to a speech - the
same speech, actually an Order, recited every year. This
order, written by Commandant John LeJeune (Marine Corps
Order Number 47), proclaims our heritage and proud
history. If you’re at the ball, you will hear this Order read in
its entirety.

It's also a time for us to look towards the future. Each year,
the Commandant releases his Birthday message. It is an
opportunity for him to reflect on the past year and the
accomplishment of his troops. It’s also an opportunity for him
to present his ideas and plans for the future, and to thank his
Marine’s for a job well done.

Marines always celebrate the date of November 10th. You
could be in Boot Camp as I was during my first Birthday, or in
the middle of a war zone as many of our Marines are today.
Regardless, this day does not pass without recognition of our
longstanding traditions and heritage.

I think an Air Force Sgt. Major summed it up best – “Why do
Marines feel so strongly about traditions, especially this
tradition? Marines are a "different breed!" Their perspective of
life is unique and filled with unbridled pride and commitment
to excellence. Marines believe that there is no public calling
higher than that of Marine.

They also believe that tasks are given to be accomplished
and that anything short of mission accomplishment is
unacceptable. And lastly, Marines believe in one another.
They are a "band of brothers" who realize esprit de corps is
not just a slogan; it's a way of life. Marines take care of one
another and believe emphatically ‘once a Marine, always a
Marine.’"


The Ceremony (or Why I Hate These Shoes - Can I sit down
please?)

So enough history and on to what the Birthday Ball is all
about.

Birthday Balls may be Enlisted, Officer or a combination of
both. Personally, I think segregation of the Balls is not
consistent with the Esprit de Corps of the Marine Corps.
However, it depends upon the size of the Marine unit and the
whims of the senior staff. I’ve been to all types. Also, Balls
are dependent upon the funding of the unit. Have you seen
those base car washes? They're trying to get money for
the Ball. The price of the ticket depends on how much money
the unit has for their Ball funding. And some units have more
money than others which is why some Balls are incredible
and elaborate shows (CENTCOM) and others are very simple
(PISC).

The evening usually starts with a cocktail hour – a time to
mingle with your fellow Marines and their dates. Most often,
this is not paid for – expect to pay your own bar tab. Seating
at most Balls is assigned, so make sure you find the seating
chart and know what table you’re at. About 10 minutes before
the ceremony starts, the Narrator will announce people to
start seating. He’ll do this again at 5 minutes before so make
sure you’ve gone to the restroom because most often, the
doors lock (yes, they’ll make accommodations for you if you
can’t hold it for one or two hours).

After everyone is seated, the first thing that usually happens
is the reading of the Commandant’s message (or a video)
followed by a Chaplain’s prayer. Yes – everyone usually
hopes the Commandant is not long winded!

Now you have the Adjutants Call. The Colors are marched
forward along with the guest of honor and distinguished
Marine’s. You’re standing so make sure the shoes are comfy.
The band will play the National Anthem and the Colors will be
posted. Now you’ll hear the Marine Corps Hymn. Marines –
whether in uniform or not, are all at attention. They’ll roll the
cake out at this time, too, and finally, you can sit down.

Time for more speeches... This time, it’s General LeJeune’s
order and the guest of honor. Hopefully, you’ll have a really
engaging guest of honor. If your Ball can get Gen. Tommy
Franks, book him.

And finally, the last and most memorable part of the
ceremony – the cake cutting. By tradition, the first pieces of
cake go to three people: the first to the guest of honor, the
second to the oldest Marine, and the third to the youngest
Marine. It’s a very solemn moment because in many ways,
it’s a symbol of the old breed passing the traditions and love
of the Corps to the new breed.

Now, the same procession that entered the room leaves the
room and the dinner usually begins.

Each Ball will have its own flow – some have a traditional
uniform viewing during the Ceremony, or, as in the past few
years, a long video about the “State of the Corps,” that is
shown Marine Corps wide. It just depends. The Ceremony
usually lasts about one hour, but I've seen it go on for two
hours.

Can I Go Dance Now??

Now – a few things….

Dinner can be before the Ceremony or after. I’ve seen it both
ways. Also, the wine may or may not be paid for. Most
commands do their best to give each table at least two bottles
of wine. The food quality is really dependent upon where the
ball is. Most hotel balls seem to have decent food, but
honestly, the Birthday Dinner I had at 4th Battalion at PISC
was the finest. The sand fleas on the cake ruined dessert, but
we had lobster and filet mignon.

The stuff on the table? Yes – it’s shwag. Most commands will
give you a set of glasses or something else commemorating
the event. Some of the gifts are really great – like a statue of
Iwo Jima (the best one I’ve ever gotten), or not so great
(like a command coin). By the end of the evening, if it’s on
the table someone has probably already claimed it. Flowers,
flags, etc. all get scarfed up.

The entertainment varies. My favorite balls have been those
where the local base band has played. It is amazing how
talented our Marines are! Most can play much more than
just “Semper Fidelis.” Some units will hire a DJ. Overall, the
goal is to get you out on the floor dancing. And don’t worry if
you can’t dance. The idea is to have fun – not to look like
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

If you want to have your picture taken, my advice is to get
their early. Most photographers won’t stay much past 22:00
and the line usually forms well before the ceremony begins.
But also bring a camera and take pictures. You never know
what you’ll see…

As for the rest of the night, just have fun. You’re going to be
amazed at how nice people are and how beautiful everyone
looks. We all worry and fuss about our dresses before the
evening, but by 23:00, no one really cares (and you’re feet
hurt anyway). This is a glorious night for Marines and one that
gives us the opportunity to celebrate our title so enjoy it.

And finally - a word to the wise. Three years ago I went to a
wonderful ball where the local law enforcement was waiting
right outside the hotel like vultures as the Marines poured out.
The number of DUIs that evening was unprecedented
including an 18 year major crashing his car into a drainage
ditch and almost killing himself. If your Ball is at a hotel, get a
room there. If you're not able to stay in the same facility, get
a cab. Don't ruin the best night of the year.

Source

Our Marines

Recently found this in my inbox. I wish they were going to be somewhere nearby!
This is going to be the BEST commercial!

Hello,

I am contacting you and your blog readers on behalf of Our.Marines.com, a new web site from the United States Marine Corps. In the past you’ve used your site to discuss Marine Corps-related issues. So I’d like to let you know about content we’re posting on Our.Marines.com specifically for sites like yours.

The site launches in conjunction with an epic new television commercial now in production for the Marine Corps. Marines will travel across the country, carrying their message of fidelity, service and pride to all Americans. Along the way, we will be stopping in several cities to produce the commercial and interact with Americans.

While the site started just a couple days ago, it is only the beginning of what it will be. In the coming weeks we’ll share the stories of Marines, past and present, along with compelling messages from parents, relatives, friends and just average Americans who recognize the importance of the Marine Corps. In a few weeks we’ll open the doors for people to submit their own stories of Why I Serve and Why It Matters. Most importantly, all of this content is there for you to use. At present, that means RSS feeds and dozens of images. Soon we will provide embeddable video and user generated content as well.

One last note, in addition to visiting the site and sharing content, we would like to have you visit us if you are close to any of the cities where we will be filming. You will find a list of the locations on the site. If you need more details, such as specific location and time, please email me. If you decide to come out and join us, please be sure to find me. I’d like to meet with you and learn more about what we can do to help you share the Marine Corps story on your site.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Todd Copilevitz
Director of Digital Strategy
RMG Connect (interactive agency for the Marine Corps Recruiting Command)

The next stops:
New York, Sept. 24
3-7 a.m, Times Square
W 46th St & Broadway Ave.

Rhode Island, Sept. 25
6-11 a.m., Point Judith
Ocean Road @ Follett Road, Narragansett, RI

Sligo, KY, Oct. 6
Location to be determined

Scottsburg, IN, Oct. 7
Support The Troops Rally
2 p.m., Meyer Gymnasium
149 South Third Street

Operation: Love ReUnited

Operation: Love ReUnited is a group of professional photographers who help deploying military families, capture one of the most important times of their lives on film, saying goodbye, and welcome home. We support a blog and a forum free for public viewing and participation along with our portfolio and information site.

Introduction To The Program:

If you have ever been through a military deployment, there are no words to explain how hard it is to send the father or mother of your children off to some foreign, dangerous land, leaving you all behind…. Alone. It’s indescribable to watch their faces light up as their mother comes up the stairs of the airport after months, possibly a year or more, of not hugging each other. Emotions fly through the main lobby, it’s so very good to have them home. Your base’s Family Support Squadron will help you with your deployment. But the last thing on your mind when your wife or husband arrives home after a 4 to 18 month tour, is capturing all this love– on film. Most people are so overwhelmed with emotions they forget to simply point and shoot the camera they are grasping of their child’s first hug, or that single tear of relief from a mother being able to hold her twenty year old son again. With the help of Operation: Love ReUnited and local photographers near your base, you can.

The Operation helps those long months go by a little faster. It’s designed to capture moments that you will never remember. It’s art. It’s love. And it’s all made possible by artists wanting to give something back to those who make the United States what it is, and ask for nothing in return- but to come home.

If you are a member of the United States Military, and are interested in having very special and touching images with a patriotic edge taken of you and/or your family before a deployment or during, and at your reunion, please contact us now. You will receive a substantial package as a gift in appreciation for all you have been through as a military member. The package will always include a 4x6 album of pre-deployment images, such as a child’s hand clasped in his parent’s with the faint glimpse of a BDU sleeve, a marine in dress with his family, a salior with his parents right before departure, or a child playing dress up in combat boots and a helmet. The album will be sent to the deployed soldier by the photographer, at no cost to you. Also with your package, all session fees will be waived. Your photographer may have a designated package or other options for Operation: Love ReUnited participants at their discretion with a signed model release.
Operation: Love ReUnited

Onward by Faith...

This book was suggested to me by another Marine mom. She said it is a great read for all Marine parents and family members. It is called Onward by Faith... by Gina Gippner and can be purchased at the author's website. Here are some quotes from the website:

Just when I thought motherhood couldn't get any harder, my only son, Glenn, decided he would join the Marines.

There were no conversations, only one quick decision that began my journey to Iraq and Back...

There’s a process those joining the Military go through, and there’s a process that mothers go though when their children join the Military.

Gina Gippner's "Onward By Faith " is a heartfelt, spiritually, uplifting tribute to the men and woman who serve in our nation military, and affirmation of a mother's love for her son.

-William Matson Law, Author of In the Eye of History

A must read for any parent who has had a son or daughter sent into harm's way. Gina Gippner captures the emotions I've felt during my own son's deployments with the U.S. Army. Allow yourself to laugh and cry as this Marine Mom discovers the catharsis of writing along with the fear of having a son go to war.

-Michael J. Cain, Author of The Tangled Web and proud father of an American Soldier

With the purchase of each book, you will also receive a *FREE* DVD of our videogram/pictorial "Your Dreams Became Our Marines" produced and edited by Jan, featuring many of our Marines/Marine familes. Special background music "When It's Time To Go" is provided by "4HIM" artists Jeff Silvey and Billy Simon from the album Basics of Life 1992- MusicServices.Org. This DVD is a loving tribute to our Marine sons and daughters who serve us so faithfully. We also honor the memory of our men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice along with our Gold Star families.

Father’s influence inspires one son to enlist, with three more to go

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (Aug. 23, 2007) – Master Gunnery Sgt. James Hunter and Lance Cpl. Mitchell Hunter enjoy a day together at Al Taqaddum. James is Mitchell’s father and he arrived here from his station at Al Asad to spend time with his son. At Al Asad, James Hunter serves as an aircraft maintenance chief with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward).Mitchell Hunter will be serving here as a landing support specialist with Transportation Support Company, 2nd Supply Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward).

Aug. 28, 2007; Submitted on: 08/28/2007 11:51:44 AM ; Story ID#: 2007828115144

By Cpl. Andrew Kalwitz, 2nd Marine Logistics Group
AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (Aug. 28, 2007) -- Many aren’t quite sure why they did it. For some, it is just something to do. Others just wanted the financial benefits. But Mitchell Hunter said money had nothing to do with his decision to enlist. Instead, it was about pride and an influential father.

“I thought the Marine Corps to be one job that you have to earn the title of,” said Hunter, a lance corporal who serves here as a landing support specialist with Transportation Support Company, 2nd Supply Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward). “At the same time, earning that title comes with a respect that I hoped to hold; that respect that I saw my father receive as a Marine.”

The Hunter family has seemingly adopted Marine Corps service as a family tradition. Mitchell’s father, Master Gunnery Sgt. James Hunter, an aircraft maintenance chief with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), explained he too enlisted out of his own pride and influence from his father, who served as a Marine during WWII. But in James’ case, money played a small role.

“Believe it or not, I enlisted on a bet with my father,” he said. “I always felt that he rode me harder than my older brother. One day, the topic of the Marine Corps came up and he said I wasn’t man enough or mature enough to survive Marine Corps boot camp. So I said, ‘Oh yeah? I’ll bet you a hundred bucks I am.’”

Needless to say, James graduated boot camp, earning one hundred dollars and a uniform he has worn for more than 24 years. James said he later used the money to buy a Father’s Day gift.

Of his four sons, Mitchell currently serves as an activated reservist, 18-year-old Justin is in the process of enlisting and 16-year-old Nathan has talked about it for years. If 8-year-old Brandon does as his brothers did, he will ask his parents to sign him up for the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

“I’d like to say that I’ve had a positive impact as a father, at least in the realm of being patriotic and serving the country. I think that’s somewhat evident,” James said.

Whether Mitchell’s brothers serve or not, they’ve had their dose of Marine Corps culture. In addition to enduring their father’s three deployments, they’ve had to move every couple of years to new duty station locations. Now deployed and a husband of five months, Mitchell is experiencing these family hardships from a servicemember’s perspective.

“You feel as if you want to do as many things as possible with your family with what little time you have left before you leave,” Mitchell said. “It's really sad and heart-breaking to have to say goodbye to your loved ones, but you know you'll be able to come back home in a while. We tend to see the bigger picture and realize how great our family is and how important they are in a deployment like this.”

James is approaching the end of his deployment and will see his family soon, but Mitchell’s has just begun. Like most Marines, he misses his family but was privileged to have been welcomed by a familiar face when stepping foot onto the desert ground.

“The last time that I saw him in uniform was in boot camp,” James said after seeing his son land in Iraq. “This time seeing him in uniform was somewhat of an out-of-body experience. I was as proud today when I saw him as I was the day I saw him (graduate).”

James arrived here from his station at Al Asad Air Base approximately 20 minutes before his son. They spent two days together before James returned to his station.

He said he was happy to have seen his oldest son and he is looking forward to seeing the rest of his family when he returns home – wherever that is. Is it Iwakuni, Japan, where Mitchell was born? Is it one of the three bases his other sons were born on? Maybe Jacksonville, N.C., where Mrs. Hunter ran her own Cuban restaurant.

None of the above. James considers home to be West Palm Beach, Fla., where he moved with his father, who served with the Civil Air Patrol and met James’ mother after flying to Belize to evacuate people during a hurricane. But the Hunter family has moved so often, there is bound to be some disagreement amongst them as to where they feel comfortable.

Many say home is where the heart is. To the few and the proud, that often means the Marine Corps. This may be the same for the Hunter family. For they are among the many who consider their fellow Marines to be family, but among the few who know their family to be fellow Marines.

Home Front Custom Charm

Look what I found today! You can order a custom charm shaped like a tiny dogtag with your loved one's picture on it. They look beautiful. These would be perfect for families with deployed Marines and Soldiers. One of my sons is deploying soon and I am planning to order one to wear while he is gone.

Order here.