Quotes from Attendees: "I feel so blessed to have attended the conference. It was very emotional, inspirational, motivating and just plain wonderful! Everyone needs to start saving for next year. I am so proud to be a Marine mom and to be a part of this wonderful organization. It's going to take a while to absorb all the honor, courage and commitment I witnessed this weekend. God bless you all and GOD BLESS OUR MARINES!" "The best part about the conference was being with other Marine families - people who understand what it's like to have a family member in the Corps. My wife and I rarely encounter other military families so this was a great experience for us. Our thanks go to those who organized this year's event. We'll look forward to seeing you next year." “We felt completely at home with everyone, as if we had seen them every day of our lives; yet, most of them we had just met that Friday and Saturday. THIS IS TRULY FAMILY, FOLKS!" "It really has been an incredible weekend! The connection and bond of everyone at the Conference is phenomenal -- it can't be described. One Marine who attended dinner said he had no idea there was so much support out here."

For five consecutive years, Marine Parents has hosted an annual conference designed to give Marines and Marine families a place to Connect and Share™ with those they have come to know and trust through our website and Outreach Programs. Our conference always affords an opportunity for our Marine community to come together offering solace and memorable times to those who often feel alone as they serve our country.

In addition to providing community, we offer a phenomenal line up of speakers, authors, and breakout sessions dedicated to educating attendees about varying aspects of Corps life. Whether attendees are being inspired by Aaron Mankin’s speeches, listening to Dr. Cantrell’s lectures, or reading Gunny Pop’s heroic tale during their down time, there is always something new and insightful to learn about the Marine Corps and what it means to be a Marine family.

But we are not just all work and no play! With conference locations ranging from Washington D.C. to San Diego, California, there are plenty of new sights and sounds for all to experience. In the past, conference attendees and coordinators have even visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Camp Pendleton, and the USMC Working Dogs. Day trips always promise a good time and a renewed sense of pride, not to mention, many unique photo opportunities!

Time spent amongst our Heroes’ Exhibit is enjoyable for many families as they can display their pride by sharing numerous photos of their Marine. Laughter and thankfulness can often be heard as families recount the memories of Boot Camp graduation or the first time their Marine returned from deployment. Many use the same photos they used in the Heroes Exhibit to create scrapbook pages honoring their Marine during our scrapbook sessions. These two events offer many opportunities to share memories strengthening the bond between members of our community.

Our Saturday Night Benefit Dinner is always a conference highlight as it allows attendees to come together and support those who have supported them. Attendees can choose to sponsor a Marine for the evening by purchasing a Benefit Ticket for them, and have been able to support Marine Parents in the past by bidding on items in the silent auction. The night is full of dancing and laughter as everyone enjoys our last night together and relives the memories of the events prior, and our chosen Keynote Speaker leaves a wonderful, lasting impression on all who attend. The Benefit Dinner is the place to be on Saturday nights and definitely not an event to miss.

We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans in April 2010 for our final Conference! As our last conference, we hope to make it truly memorable event! We ensure that if you are a returning attendee, you will have the great time you have come to expect, and if you are a new attendee, you will have the experience of a lifetime. Be sure to make your hotel reservations now to enjoy a fun and relaxing weekend with Marine Parents in the Big Easy!