Stacey Barnett is a resident and junior at Villa Park High School who requests your help in making this a Thanksgiving to remember. There are numerous young Marines in training at Camp Pendleton who, because of their training schedules, are unable to get sufficient leave time to return home for Thanksgiving. To provide these young men some relief on Thanksgiving the Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA initiated its Home Hospitality – Adopt a Marine for Thanksgiving program where community members can host Marines for Thanksgiving dinner.

The Marine students must travel in pairs, and since they are also new to the Marine Corps having just graduated from boot camp, they are not allowed to drive which means participating community members not only feed these young men (only male Marines attend this particular school), but they must also pick them up and bring them back at designated times.

Over the past few years several Villa Park families have made this event truly special for the young Marines by transporting them in a limousine as well as providing thank you gifts as recognition for their commitment to our country. The young Marines, who are frequently reticent to participant in the program, have responded extremely well to these additional efforts the program sponsor is enthusiastic to have them continue. Unfortunately, the few residents involved can take but a tiny fraction of the young Marines.

To participate or for more information please email Stacey Barnett at staceybarnett@sbcglobal.net.