**WORTHY CAUSE ALERT**

blondie has forwarded an email to me that I think will be of interest to all Ldotters:

Operation Santa:
The second rotation of troops to Iraq is underway. Many of our Marines will be home for Thanksgiving and Christmas . . . and others will spend these family-centered holidays far from home. For many of these young men and women, this will be their first Christmas away from friends and family. Although they have made a choice to serve their country, it's going to be a lonely holiday. And not just for the Marines but for family members back home as well.

One of the hardest parts of this deployment for me is knowing that my son and his brother Marines will be spending Christmas away from home. Every Christmas morning for the last 20 years, my son has looked forward to a stocking, hung by the chimney with care, chock-full of carefully chosen and wrapped gifts. The week before our Marines deployed, Connie listened as I told her that I knew this would be ahard time and that I thought I'd send Christmas in a box to his platoon.

She looked at me and said, "Just his platoon?"

Okay, his company. "Just his company?"

The Marine Corps Moms are rolling again. Operation Santa will bring a touch of home to the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan. While we are starting with 1/7, we hope to add other battalions, depending on volunteer commitment and energy...

Read more here...:
Marine Corps Moms

And this was a letter to Sgt. Grit from the Mom who runs this site (emailed thru a Marine Newsletter).

Dear Sgt. Grit;

I wondered if you would put a plug for Operation Santa in your next newsletter. We are a group of Marine Corps Moms working to support our Marines in a number of different ways. Last year when our sons were deployed, we sent 5,000 lbs. of school supplies to Najaf to supply the Marine Legacy Schools that 1/7 Marines refurbished. Earlier this year, we enlisted volunteers to sew 2,000 cool ties that were sent to hot troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, our sons are back in Iraq for their second deployment and will be spending their first holidays away from home. While they are intent on accomplishing their mission, it will still be a lonely time for them.

Here's a link to the announcement on our website:
Marine Corps Moms

I have sample press releases, flyers, stocking directions and patterns, and project guidelines for anyone who would like to sponsor a platoon of Marines. If you could help us get the word out through your excellent newsletter, we'd very much appreciate it.

We met Gunny Davis at the Marine Parents United convention in Indianapolis last month. We were very happy to meet him and the Sgt. Grit merchandise that we bought and brought back to Oregon was a huge hit with our families and friends. Thanks again.

Deb Conrad
Proud Marine Mom
www.marinecorpsmoms.com