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July 23, 2007



Operation Santa USMC 2007

1/7 Marines with Operation Santa stockings in 2004

Yes, it's July. It's not too early, though, to start thinking about Christmas for our troops who will be deployed over the holidays. In the past 3 years, we've sent around 35,000 filled Christmas stockings to Marines, Soldiers, and other troops who are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. This year, our goal is 25,000 and we'll make it with the help of volunteers like you.

The photo above is from 2004 when we started Operation Santa with the idea of sending 42 stocking for Marines in my son's platoon. It grew with the help of some amazing people throughout the country and we sent 6,000 stockings that first year. 1/7 deploys again in August, along with thousands of other Marines. We'll make their Christmas merrier this year too - as well as quite a few Army and National Guard units who are also deployed.

For more information on how you can become involved in this years effort, check out our Operation Santa page. We need you to make this happen.

Posted by Deb at 01:55 PM | Comments (1)



July 22, 2007



Josh Gracin hits a high note in Oregon

Sometimes, things are meant to be. Just ask Michelle Williams. When former Marine and American Idol contestant Josh Gracin visited Albany, Oregon last week to play the Linn County Fair, her boyfriend had purchased tickets. She'd just taken a new job at Joe's and didn't want to ask for time off. Michelle was ringing up customers at Checkstand #3 when Josh came through her line


"There was a long line, so I wasn't even looking up yet," Williams said. "It's really busy, he bought some stuff, and he had a hat on, so I didn't even recognize him." Gracin brought out a credit card but hadn't signed the back of it, so Williams asked to see his license. Then she looked up - and burst into tears.

Gracin, working on the dumplings later for his paprikash in a trailer behind the main stage, recalled the incident with a grin. "I said, I have a lot of fans, but they don't usually cry." He asked her why she was crying, and she told him how much she admired his music. "Are you coming to my show tonight?" he asked, and she told him the story: the purchased tickets, the work schedule, the tickets given away. "He said, 'Can I talk to your manager?'" Williams said. "I was like, what? Oh my gosh!"

A few minutes later, manager Charles Wines called Williams to his office and asked her why she hadn't told him she had concert tickets. "I said, well, I have to work,” she said," and he said, 'Well, you’re going. Josh said it made his day.'"

Gracin said he offered Wines tickets for himself if he would let Williams go. "He said, 'No need to do that, I'm sure we can work something out.'"

And, they did. Several hours later, Gracin's crew had enjoyed a fine meal of Chicken Paprikash and Michelle and her boyfriend had enjoyed the concert from the front row. Oohrah!

Posted by Deb at 01:13 PM | Comments (115) | TrackBack