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They are young with only a few months experience as a Marine and most often away from home for the fist time. They sign up for AFAF’s Adopt a Marine for Thanksgiving as a way to fill the void of being away from family on this most American of holidays.
AFAF’s goal remains the same, providing a very special day for Marines and their host families while honoring and thanking the Marines for their service. You can be a part of the celebration by hosting Marines Thanksgiving Day, 2023.
In prior years, host families and Marines alike have told us their Thanksgiving was the best they have ever experienced. This year’s Thanksgiving can be the best ever as we plan for a return of the program to the Coachella Valley.
As in recent years, AFAF will also host a Thanksgiving celebration at the base for over 500 Marines. This double Thanksgiving celebration in the valley and at the base has become an annual tradition that Marines look forward to each year.
They are young with only a few months experience as a Marine and most often away from home for the fist time. They sign up for AFAF’s Adopt a Marine for Thanksgiving as a way to fill the void of being away from family on this most American of holidays.
Thanksgiving is always a special day for AFAF, the Marines and hundreds of host families that welcome the Marines into their homes for a day of great food, fun and gifts galore.
Thanksgiving 2022 was a very special day when for the first time AFAF held celebrations in the Coachella Valley and at the 29 Palms Marine Air Ground Combat Center.
At the base, arrangements were made for 1000 Marines and Sailors to be hosted for a Thanksgiving Dinner with all the special holiday trimmings, big screen TVs for the troops to enjoy the NFL games of the day, drawings every hour for cash prizes and a $25 gift card for each military person attending.
While the base celebration was gearing up, 250 Marines and Sailors were on the way by chartered bus to welcoming celebrations held throughout the Coachella Valley. As the busses were loaded at dusk for the return trip to the base, our military guests and their host families promised to keep their new friendships alive for years to come.
They are young with only a few months experience as a Marine and most often away from home for the fist time. They sign up for AFAF’s Adopt a Marine for Thanksgiving as a way to fill the void of being away from family on this most American of holidays.
American Friends of our Armed Forces held its annual Adopt a Marne for Thanksgiving program at 29 Palms Marine Base with 500 Marines participating. The Marines were treated to a barbecue lunch and gift pack as a way to honor and say thank you for the service they provide to the country. The troops also received their traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings.
AFAF’s annual Thanksgiving program of transporting 400 Marines to the valley where they are matched up with a host family for the day was replaced by the base program for the last two years due to Covid 19 restrictions.
The Marines expressed their sincere thanks for the special recognition. AFAF’s wishes to express it appreciation for the funding of the program to the hundreds of valley families who through their donations made the program possible.
The Marines, host families and AFAF are hopeful that next year we can return to our traditional program.
Just another year in AFAF’s annual Adopt a Marine for Thanksgiving.
