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April 10, 2006:
Gloucester Military Family
Members
Please
contact the Gloucester Office of Veterans' Services at (978) 281-9740
to register your active duty family member and to have military
member's names announced during upcoming city ceremonies.
Photos of
Support Rally held on March 30, 2003 at Gloucester City Hall
Still looking
for military families! Please contact OVS to register Gloucester
Military Service members.
IIMPORTANT -
Disturbing Hoax - The American Red Cross
Armed Forces Emergency Services has received word from the National
Guard Bureau of several recent incidents where family members of
deployed service members received telephone calls from individuals
claiming to be a representative of the Red Cross. The callers
informed these families that their deployed service member was kille in
action, missing in action or a prisoner of war. The United
States Military, not the American Red Cross, is the organization that
notifies families. Report incidents at 1-888-309-9679.
Incidents have occurred in Delaware, Alabama, and Michigan.
Operation
Uplink offers free phone cards
for hospitalized or deployed military along with other useful
information.
Defend America Log on to this
Department of Defense web site and sign a brief message to thank
the men and women of the U. S. Military. (See link at bottom of
page for a local message center.)
PRAYER BOARD
Add your Military family
photo and name.
CONTACT PASTOR ARDIS
MAYO-MCNEIL
Gloucester United Methodist
Church
436 Washington Street
(978) 281-1040
We're
here for you. Family members of Gloucester residents serving
in the United States Military, please contact the Office of Veterans'
Services for information and registration.
BLUE STAR BANNERS
are still unavailable through the American Legion. They will let us
know when the banners arrive. Contact us if you have been unsuccessful
in your own search.
Internet access is available to military family members to
send email. We can schedule at your convenience.
Operation Shoe Box is well under way. If you would
like to volunteer to help send much needed supplies to our troops,
please contact Lois Couch at 978-282-5401 or any member of Utica
Council #46 Degree of the Pocahontas for information and a list of
suggested items. Or visit www.operationshoebox.com for information.
Shipping Charges. A
major source of concern for many people is shipping charges for
Operation Shoebox and families sending packages overseas. A couple
ideas to help: (1) Groups & Organizations can donate shipping money
instead of goods. (2) Ask each contributor to tape a couple of dollars
on each box to help with shipping costs. ANY IDEAS?
The Department of the Army stated that because of
security, mail and packages will not be delivered to servicemen and
women unless they are specifically addressed to an individual.
The Salvation Army has a number of programs for military
families. The Red Shield Fund is accepting donations where 100%
of your donation will help families with food and other needed items.
Make checks payable to the Salvation Army/Red Shield Fund and you
can drop it off at our office. Along with the U.S.O., the
Salvation Army is in the process of collecting "baby shower" items to
be given to the military families with infants and small children.
More to come on the baby shower and Gloucester's effort for this
program. Contact the Salvation Army in Boston at 617-542-5420.
The American Red Cross can be contacted at their
Gloucester Office for emergency assistance. They will assist you
with emergency contact information. 978-283-1660.
Please show support for our troops by flying an American
Flag or hanging yellow ribbons.
Please contact the Gloucester Office of Veteran's Services
if you are planning any special event or fund-raiser in support of our
troops.
Family members - contact us, we are here for you.
Please contact the Office of Veterans' Services with helpful
information that you may have regarding Gloucester military families,
family assistance programs, and military contacts that we may not have.
MILITARY FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND
NETWORKING
1-866-299-0596
1-800-833-6622
FAMILY MATTERS SUPPORT AND
DEPLOYMENT OPERATION
1-800-372-5463
- UNITED STATES MARINE
CORPS
OPERATION ONE SOURCE
1-800-433-6868
ARMED FORCES EMERGENCY CENTER
WORRIED/COMPASSIONATE CALLS
1-888-737-4306
GLOUCESTER OFFICE
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
(978) 283-1660
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