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MarineParents.com, Inc. is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity.
To learn more about MarineParents.com, Inc. see: www.MarineParents.com
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Operation PAL™
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How You Can Help
Your support of our Marines by adding each name to your prayers list is appreciated. There is power in prayer.
If you can take time to send a Letter or Card to each Marine to let them know they are in your prayers and to offer encouragement, please take time today to do that.
Organized Groups
If you belong to an organized group that would like to participate in Operation PAL, please pass the word on. Your support of our Marines is critical and appreciated!
Letters From Children
If you know of a childrens' group or classroom that would like to participate in Operation PAL, please pass the word on. Letters and Cards from school-age children is some of the best medicine!
Click for Video
Children Making Cards
Discussion Group
Click here to join the Operation PAL discussion group to see what others are doing and to learn more about how you can help.
Add a Marine
If you know of a Marine that needs to receive support from Operation PAL, please contact us.
Mailing Address
Marine's Name Here
c/o MarineParents.com
PO Box 670328
Marietta, GA 30066
Order Brochures
Contact the office and order brochures to pass out at work, your club, school or church.
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Who can be put on the list?
Any Marine or Corpsman injured/wounded/ill and returned stateside can be put on the list with family approval.
How do I get a Marine's name on the list?
If you are a family member, you can do one of several things.
You can post that your Marine has been injured and that you'd like to be contacted by an OperationPAL™ volunteer. One will get in touch right away.
You can call the MarineParents.com office and leave contact information. A volunteer will return your call and get the information necessary for startup.
You can click on the left side "Signup Form" under "Forms/Publications", fill it out and send it. A volunteer will be in contact upon receipt. We will NOT share this information publicly. It will be used to setup the liaison mailing address only. When you submit information, only the moderators will see it and it will be removed once the liaison address has been setup.
If you are not a family member:
Click on the left side "Signup Form", fill it out and send it. A volunteer will be in contact upon reciept. You can also email an OperationPAL™ volunteer with family contact information and we will contact them. First, please explain to the family who OperationPAL™ and MarineParents.com are, what we do, and ask the family of the Marine for permission for us to contact them. Receiving phone calls or emails from unknown organizations and people asking questions about their Marine can be alarming. We want to make this as comfortable as possible for them and not add too their already stressful situation.
Where do we find the addresses for the Marines?
To assure privacy, we do not give out personal mailing addresses. We use a liaison mailing address that can be found on the right side of this web page, or by clicking the "contact us" links.
Do the cards have to be sent separately or can I put them all in one bulk envelope?
The cards do not have to be sent separately. Just address each envelope with the name, rank and unit info and leave them unsealed. That's all that's needed if you send them all in one big envelope. The address to use for a bulk envelope is found on the right side of this website, or by clicking the 'Contact us' link.
Does each card have to have postage on it?
If you send a batch of cards in one bulk envelope, you do not have to affix postage on each card
Do we use the full name and mailing address on each envelope or just their name?
If you mail individual cards, you will need the whole address. If you mail a batch of cards in one big envelope you can leave them all unsealed, use the Marine's name, rank and unit information on the individual cards and no individual postage is necessary.
How long does it take when a Marine is put on the list before he/she starts receiving cards?
It is usually 2-4 weeks before the Marine will receive the first cards. We post a new name as soon as we have all the information and the family's permission. Then people start writing and mailing to the PO Box. From there our volunteer separates everything and mails a bulk package to each Marine as fast as it can be done.
Why does the Marine have to be in the States to be on OperationPAL™ ?
When Marines are 'in country', transferred around to different hospitals, or sent to different countries, as you can imagine it is very difficult for their mail to keep up with them. By the time we could write they may be back to work or sent stateside. So from experience we wait until they have been sent stateside to one of the major hospitals before we send the cards and letters.
How can I tell if a Marine is ill or has been wounded, I want to personalize my notes.
When you click on "List of Names", if you then click on a Marine's name, a screen will come up with a brief description of why he/she is on our list and the latest update on that Marine's progress. This will allow you to see that a Marine may have cancer and you can write differently to him/her than to one who has been wounded in combat, and yet again to one who was injured in a training or vehicle accident.
Can I get updates on the listed Marines?
We post updates as we get them. As you can imagine, these families' lives have been turned upside down. Some find that outward communication is therapeutic, some are very private. We honor whatever decisions the family makes. This results in some Marines with constant updates and others with none. It does not change the fact that they need support. What we DO know is that the recoveries take many months or years and the cards are greatly appreciated by all the families.
Will my Marine write back? Are these penpals?
The people on our list are, for the most part, very seriously wounded. We want them to focus on recovery and do not ask that they respond to our cards and letters. We only want to send them support and let them know we care. Please refrain from asking for a reply.
Can I send a care package or gift to an injured Marine?
Please only send cards and letters through Operation PAL™ to our Marines and Corpsmen. The biggest reason for this is many are in hospitals or in rooms at rehab centers and we have been told they have very little space. Some are in ICU units where nothing is allowed. Your cards and letters on their own are a big support and encouragement to these awesome men and women and are greatly appreciated by their families.
What should I say when I write?
This is a case where it's the thought that counts. Anything from your heart will be received with appreciation. Depending on the severity of the injury you may be writing to the parents who then read the note to their Marine and parents need words of support too. 'Thanks for serving' and an appreciation of them doing their jobs is appropriate. Notes written by children seem to be particularly heartwarming, no matter what the message.
Some writers send cards regularly and change their messages based on an update, progress, or news article they come across. There are times for consolation but certainly there are times for celebration. For example, as sad as you may find the situation, a Marine who just stood up on his two new prosthetic legs would probably like to get a big OohRah!
How often should I write?
You can write as often as you like. We send the cards when we have enough to make a big batch for each - monthly on average.
Why do I see a photo of someone whose name is not on the active list?
The photos are of those who are 'active'(currently on the list) and 'inactive'(no longer on the list). We want you to see those who have previously received cards as well as those to whom you can write today. The 'active' list is always current.
How do I ensure the Marines will received my holiday cards on time?
If you have your cards in the mail to our PO Box three (3) weeks before the holiday, the cards will be received on time. Christmas is the only time we ask for a little more leeway, as with any mailing project, just because of the amount of mail at that time.
How long is a Marine on the list?
The Marine will be on the list until such time as we hear he/she wishes to be removed. Some go back to work. Most of the time, a Marine is removed because the family wants us to focus on the newer ones. Their Marine may still have a long way to go, but is ready to move forward with his/her new life and capabilities
How often are cards mailed out to the Marines?
We mail out cards when we have enough for a big batch, for now, usually monthly but more often when holidays are on the calendar.
Why are Sailors on the list?
Usually Navy personnel take medical care of our Marines. The deployed groups have 'Docs' who stay with them on their missions. These 'Docs' are subject to the same dangers as our Marines and we count them as one of us when they themselves are injured.
How can I print a list to give to a teacher or group for a project?
We are working on a way to list the name, and why he/she is on the list, but it not available yet. At the moment we are updating a simple list here:
http://www.usmcparents.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=50783
You can copy/paste it to a document and then print it if you need to do so.
Can I (or my company) help pay some of the postage?
Of course! Just go to https://marineparentsinc.com/donation.asp
and choose Operation PAL™, then follow the easy steps. 100% of your donation will be used to get the cards and letters to our Marines and Corpsman.
How do I explain OperationPAL™ to others who may not be Marine Parents but want to help?
If you call our office we will be glad to send you brochures you can use to inform others, present ideas to your school or church group, or hand out at informational gatherings.
How can I become involved in OperationPAL™?
The possibilities are almost endless!!
Have a "card party" - Invite a scrap book consultant to come to your home & demonstrate her ideas on making patriotic or get well cards. Make this a fun social event! Invite friends & family, provide snacks & drinks. Read a little bit about each of our PAL recipients, how each was wounded & a bit about his progress. This will provide letter writing inspiration.
If you have a seasonal party (July 4th, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas etc....) ask party attendees to bring a card/letter or provide blank cards or the materials to make special home made cards and let your guests make their own. Kids REALLY get into this as well as adults.
Collect cards at your local scrapbooking store - Make an attractive poster to display at your local scrapbooking store. Of course you would need the support of the manager. Lots of these stores have work spaces for customers. If it was posted there, customers could make cards & send them. This would be a great way to encourage really nice home made heart felt cards.
You can order brochures from our office and pass them to those who may be interested.
Adopt a Marine - Choose a Marine & make him your own! Schools & Sunday School Classes are encouraged to Adopt a Marine & write to him/her frequently. You dont even need to be in school to adopt a Marine! But please, do not request return mail from him/her. They have more than enough to do with what is required in these recoveries.
Contact your local Marine Corps League & let them know about Operation PAL - give them a few of the brochures you can order from our office.
Contact local Young Marines Units (they have a website with contact names.) - give them a few of the brochures.
Boy & Girl Scouts Troops (maybe drop off the brochure at the council office. Lots of leaders come there for ideas.
Ask your co-workers to write letters.
Contact your local American Legion or VFW
Get your church involved.
Consider sending a cash donation to help pay for postage.
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Neither the United States Marine Corps nor any other component of the Department of Defense has approved, endorsed, or authorized this service. The author does not guarantee the accuracy of information contained within the web site nor does the author guarantee the accuracy of content in web sites that are linked to and referenced on this site.
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