Reunion Brief!!!!

Wow! This deployment has been flying by and is now cut short for some families. We will be having our return/reuinion brief next week because we have some Marines coming home later this month! Here are the details:

Return/Reunion Brief & Sign Making Party
Aug 25, 5:00pm
Drill Center on Fort Douglas
Inside the basketball courts

116 Pollock Rod
SLC, UT

I strongly encourage all family members to attend this very informative brief. You will learn what you can expect to happen when your Marine/Sailor comes home, cycles of emotions, how to adjust, services available to you, and so much more.
We will provide drinks and ask that if you are able to, please bring a snack/dish to share; since this will be dinner time. If you are unable to bring a dish, please still come!!!!
The brief should last around 1 hr and then will be followed by a sign making party. We will provide paint and brushes, you just bring your canvas(a sheet, poster board, wood, etc).

I look forward to seeing you there!

As always email me with any questions! keyvolunteer223@gmail.com

Free Welcome Home Signs

Here is a great website for those of us who want to buy signs and not make them....
Build A Sign is giving away free banners and oversized cards for military members. The banner is free and all you have to pay is shipping. Second and third banners are greatly discounted too! Check them out!

www.buildasign.com/troops

Enjoy!

Hello Fox Co Family and Friends!

First off, I apologize for the very late update! July got away from me and then I was out of town the first week or so of August.
June was a great walking month for the group, 700 miles!

As many of you know our Marines and Sailors will be returning home sooner than expected....what does that mean for our Walk to Iraq program? It is going to be cut short! I encourage you to step up your exercise and try to double your miles for the rest of August! That is my challenge for you this month...If you completed 20 miles in July, try to get 40 for August!
Our new total is:

1,785 miles

We have 5,200 miles to go to make it all the way to Iraq....can we do it? I bet we can! Get your neighbors and friends walking too! They can participate even if they have given me a release form....just get them walking with you!

Thanks again to everyone participating I hope it is enjoyable and beneficial!

Rachel

PICTURES!!!!!!

Family and Friends,

We are over halfway through the deployment..can you even believe it?! The Batallion(2/23) has gotten a battalion website up and running. You can check it out at

www.hs223.org

What's even more exciting is Fox Company has pictures up!!!!! Check them out at:

http://hs223.org/foxco/photo_gallery/index.html

You might just see your Marine or Sailor!

Enjoy!

L.I.N.K.S.

LINKS is coming to 2/23 July 11!!!!!!!!!

What is LINKS?

L.I.N.K.S. is a volunteer, team-mentoring program, designed by Marine Corps spouses. The program offers an orientation to the Marine Corps lifestyle, helping spouses, Marines, children and teens, and parents/extended family members understand and adapt to the unique challenges military life often presents. While the curriculum targets those who are new to the Marine Corps community, the information is very beneficial at all levels of Marine Corps experience.

L.I.N.K.S. provides information on:
Marine Corps history, tradition and language
Benefits and services
Financial awareness
Dealing with separation and deployments
Tips on moving
Effective communication

What does LINKS stand for?

Lifestyle

Insight

Networking

Knowledge

Skills

Links is one of my favorite Marine Corps programs! We have scheduled a LINKS session just for our families on July 11. LINKS is the best way to learn all about the Marine Corps. Our session is designed specifically for reserve families, helping you learn more than you could imagine about the Marine Corps.

Details....

When is LINKS?

July 11

from 8:30am until about 4:00pm

Where?

Family Readiness Center on Hill AFB

Food?

Lunch is provided, as well as cake at the conclusion of the session

Who is LINKS for?

Spouses, Parents, Grandparents, Fiancees, Girlfriends, Brothers, Sisters, etc... are welcome to attend LINKS

What about the kids?

Chilcare is provided! You need to bring lunch, snacks, and drinks for your child.

How do I sign up?

Email Rachel Abelson at keyvolunteer223@gmail.com to reserve your spot. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE SIGNED UP NO LATER THAN JULY8!!!!! We must have an accurate participant count for food and childcare. We must have at least 20 participants for a session. Email me ASAP if you want to come!

Any more questions? Email Rachel!

May Miles

May miles 571

Congratulations, in May we beat our April miles! We even had multiple walkers exceed 100 miles!!! Way to go!!!!!!!!
How are you feeling? Healthy? Relaxed? Energized? I hope Walk to Iraq is helping you feel all those things.
What is your goal for June? Hopefully it is to exceed your May miles! Remember, you can walk, bike, swim, run, kickbox...anything that gets your heart rate up and burns calories.

Total Miles 1,082

Keep up the great work!

Miles Update

Total Miles 511

Hello Fox 2/23 Friends and Families!

Thank you to everyone who has been participating in the Walk to Iraq program. Y'all are doing wonderfully!

April was challenging getting in the groove, but hopefully you are in a routine and exercise isheling the time fly by!

Date Change!!!

Families and Friends,

We have had a little setback in the deployment kickoff event. The Navy has drill this weekend and will be using the room we were supposed to use for our family event. So...

Deployment Kickoff has moved to May 2

Same times and places and activities. Pelase note the change. I"d love to know if you and your family will be attending, shoot me an email keyvolunteer223@gmail.com or leave a post on here to let me know if you are coming.

Thanks!

Rachel

Deployment Kickoff Event!

Walk to Iraq

Many of you have signed up for the Walk to Iraq program. I am happy to say we are beginning April 1st!

For those who do not know....Walk to Iraq is a program for the Fox 2/23 Families to stay healthy and help the deployment fly by. You can walk, run, swim, bike, elliptical, just about any activity you want. You just need to track your miles.

If 100 walk 5 miles each week, we will collectively walk the distance from Salt Lake City to Iraq and back. That doesn't mean you can only do 5 miles, you can do 50 if you want! Or you can do just 1 miles. Whatever is comfortable to you.

I will be sending emails each month to collect your total miles for the previous month. Just track them on this mileage chart. It is for your convenience.

This program is open to anyone and everyone who is a family member, friend, neighbor, etc of the 2/23 Marines. Before I can add you to my email list, I need you to fill out this information and waiver form. (You can't sue me if you get hurt doing the program.) Just complete it and email to me at walktoiraq09@gmail.com

I hope you are as excited about this as I am! Remember....

If you have a healthy body you will have a healthy mind...AND...Exercise is a great stress reliever.

Happy Walking! (or running, swimming, biking, etc...)

The pertinent info:

The Program:

The "Walk to Iraq" is an initiative designed to promote well being, promote fitness, relieve stress, and build camaraderie among the 2/23 family. This program is one more way that we can support our brave Marines and Sailors.

Participation:

The program is open to any spouse, child, parent, family member, or loved one of a 2/23 Marine or Sailor. The program will be begin April or May 2009, dependent on the deployment date of our Marines and Sailors.

Getting Started:

First, complete the registration form and send it in. From there, start moving and logging your miles. At the beginning of each month you will receive an email to send in your previous month’s miles. If you do not have e-mail, please be sure to mail your miles every month to the address on the registration form. Look for monthly progress reports and updates on any happenings on this key volunteer website

Going the Distance:

The total distance from Salt Lake City to Iraq is 7,100 miles and going there and back is 14,200 miles. Collectively, if each person commits to completing several miles each week, we will have "traveled" to Iraq and back! If 100 people commit to walking 5 miles a week for 7 months, the total miles walked is equivalent to the distance between Salt Lake City and Iraq. This is just for fun and fitness. You can participate in any way that you feel comfortable. Walk, run, bike, swim, or any other type of fitness activity is perfect! Set a personal goal that is based on your personal fitness level. If you want to walk more or less, great! We are just happy to have you as part of our team!

Keeping in Touch:

To submit your progress or if you have questions or comments about the "Walk to Iraq" program, please write to:

walktoiraq09@gmail.com

Parents-this is for you!

Parents,

Here is a great website just for you! Marine Parents is a place for parents of Marines to connect. There is even a forum for parents of Marines and Saliors in 2/23 to connect! Just remeber-you are with 2/23 Fox Company. I hope this turns out to be another source of information and support for you.

Enjoy!

Hero Bracelets

I wanted to tell you about a great way you can show your support for your Marine or Sailor while he is deployed. Hero Bracelets They are wonderful, adjustable bracelets. You can put just about anything you want on them. Name, unit, USMC, rank, where he is deployed to, just about anything!





They are fully adjustable so kids can wear them too. I wore mine all last deployment, in the pool, in the shower, to bed. I didn't take it off until I had him safe at home. It was a great way to display my pride for my husband and it matched everything I wore! I even wore it in my sister's wedding.


They are a great price-only $12. $2 goes to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. So you are giving back as well as showing your pride.

Key Volunteer Network

Families and Friends,

By now you should have received an email from me telling you all about the KV network and asking for volunteers. If you have not recieved this email, please email me with your name, email, and Marine's or Sailor's name. That way I can check to make sure you are on our list.

Don't forget to leave a comment here! I'd love to know who (if anyone) is reading this blog! I will be getting you some helpful information very soon!

Happy SnowShoveling!

Rachel

Happy New Year!

Families,

I promise I have not forgotten about you! I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday break and time with family. It is a new year now, the year of deployment and we will be getting our key volunteer network underway very soon-I promise. I am still waiting on my family list from the unit, things have been pretty busy for them. They had Toys for Tots and then the holidays.
I will be out of town this last week of January to visit family. When I get back I will be sending you emails with more details about the Key Volunteer network and other fun stuff.

Please don't hesitate to email me anytime- keyvolunteer223@gmail.com

I'll be in touch very, very soon!

Rachel Abelson