Thank You

In 2001 as our Nation mourned, young men and women immediately signed up to serve. My brother joined the Marine Corp and was deployed to Iraq shortly after Weapons Training School. Upon arriving to Iraq we quickly learned that the Government doesn’t provide ample supplies to our Troops. To say I was upset is an understatement.

We didn’t have social media, we didn’t have communications, we just relied on 5 to 6 minute phone calls once every few weeks. I immediately started shipping care packages to my brother and as our family ensured he had everything we could think of from toilet paper to Tylenol to sour patch kids he called again.

Eddie had a Marine Corp friend that was deployed in their unit and didn’t receive any mail. He asked if I could ship a box or two to Sam instead of him as our family was on it with supplies. By the end of their Deployment, Family and Friends were shipping to more than a dozen Marines.

As we welcomed them home from their first tour I realized that there must be other men and women in need. The Marine Corp was born in a bar. Military Connections was a born in a dorm room. The Marines of 2/4 ECHO and WEAPONS are the reason our organization exists.

Every care package shipped is because of their incredible drive to serve. They shaped our organization, used disposable cameras to send us photos to help fundraise and spent countless hours even after being home, joining me at events to share their story to help collect donations for those still overseas.

As we all aged they used PTO to join me via Zoom at events across the county. Every time one of their faces joined the screen I couldn’t believe that “kid” was now a grown man telling his boss, “I have to go help Summer be back in 30.”

Over the course of the past 23 years Military Connections has an incredible impact for thousands of US Service Members. We are all Volunteers and made sure every dollar raised was used for our Troops. We’ve made thousands of friends. We’ve been there for their happiest moments and their worst.

I never imagined when I shipped my first care package at the age of 21 that I would be doing it at 43! We’ve survived multiple wars, the invention of email & websites, digital payments, the loss of home phone lines, customs officers, a pandemic, and five Federal Administrations.

When the Marines of the 2/4 came home I couldn’t stop shipping as we had too many Troops on the Ground. In the last decade I have realized we will never be able to be at Peace and Bring Everyone Home. I so wanted to say that our Boys were home and we weren’t needed.

With that said, this has been an incredibly difficult decision, but we will pause operations at the end of 2025. Throughout the summer and fall we will continue to ship as regularly scheduled and gear up for one heck of a Christmas shipment! You Know We have to Make that Last 2025 Shipment a BIG ONE!

We aren’t saying goodbye, we’re saying we’ll see you around. Military Connections will keep their IRS 501 c3 status and Pennsylvania Charitable Status for an occasional pop-up Care Package Drive or Event. We will recommend other incredible non-profits that operate in the same manner as our volunteers, share stories and continue to hope for Everyone to Come Home.

There are not enough words to Thank Each Person that has Supported our Troops. We could never have done this without you and for that I am forever grateful.