Say "HEY" in "MAY" to the USS HIGGINS!

[Dana]

Higgins Namesake: COLONEL WILLIAM R. HIGGINS, USMC

Colonel William R. (Rich) Higgins, USMC, disappeared on Feb. 17, 1988, while serving as the Chief, Observer Group Lebanon and Senior Military Observer, United States Military Observer Group,
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization. After being held captive by pro-Iranian terrorists in Lebanon, Col. Higgins was murdered. The exact date of death is uncertain; however, he was declared dead on Jul. 6, 1990. His remains were eventually recovered and interred at Quantico National Cemetery Dec. 30, 1991.
“As an officer of Marines, I believe it is my charge to set the example. I must create a favorable impression in courage, appearance, and personal conduct. I must be mentally alert, morally straight,
and physically strong. I must uphold the personal and professional credo of ‘doing what is right even when no one is looking.’ My integrity can never be challenged and my character must be unimpeachable. My physical courage must be such that I can face the danger of combat with calmness and firmness, and my moral courage must be equal to fear of criticism I will surely face.” - Sept 1979, then Major Higgins, from an essay entitled My Credo.
SHIP:
Commissioned on April 24, 1999, USS HIGGINS (DDG-76)

Motto of her namesake “First to Fight!”

The HIGGINS crew continues to live up to the words of Senator Charles S. Robb: “The USS HIGGINS puts the world on notice: those who threaten America’s interest or dare to terrorize its citizens will face Colonel Rich Higgins and the 8,300 tons of pure American steel that now surround his spirit.” 

CREW:  288 (47 Female)    

So ladies here we go...
Our May adoption for June is the USS Higgins.  Thanks everyone for all the wonderful ideas for this month's adoptees...keep them coming!  We love all your creative feedback! The USS Higgins will be looking forward to a steel beach party about the time our packages arrive.
One of the things the ship is doing is linking with an elementary school in San Diego.  The school’s mascot is a dolphin and the Chaplain's wife bought a dolphin at Sea World for the Chaplain to take along on the ship.  He takes pictures of the dolphin ("SOLANA") doing various jobs around the ship.  Then they send the pictures to the school.  They have a bulletin board at the school that they post news from the dolphin on...  the school kids are writing to the ship.  So a “summertime fun with a water theme" would fit in great.  We could even send photos from everyone (with a dolphin in the picture) back to the ship with our packages saying "Hi" back from us Molly Moms and supporters...LOL...reminds me of the Christmas "fruitcake" adventure!

Our “We Stitch Love” group will be there every stitch of the way…LOL…no pun intended.  We will need 276+ pillowcases for this month.
As we get more info from the POC, we'll post it for here for everyone.  A special thank you goes out to Susan for all her help with this month's adoptees.

    Updates from POC:  BEACH TOWELS WOULD BE GREAT! 

                                       Address is in the WE SHIP Room and click here for LABELS 

                                       SHIPPING THE WEEK OF MAY 23rd - 27th

So far we have:

     CO (yeah!) packing 300 individual bags with personal hygiene items.

     Pillowcases:      144 CO Packing Party (many moms)

                                  69 Krista (16 female)

                                    6 Lauren

                                    9 Dana

                                  30 Nancy (10 female)                               

                                  30 Ally (5 female)

                                288 (0 remaining)

    Beach Towels:     10 Julie

                                  20 Btown Sandy

                                    6 Carol

                                    4 NYPD

                                    2 Pat

                                    5 Nancy

                                    7 HisMom

                                    7 Kim Ethan's Mom (2 female) 

                               225  FL                              

                                   2 Lauren

                                288 (0 remaining)

    FEMALE BOXES:    47 - Kim Ethan's Mom-2, HisMom-4, Carol-1, Molly's Retirement

                                           Ctr. -20  (0 remaining)

    Oregon Ducks, FL Marlins and all the goodies from the MA packing party shipping to the group

MISSION:

     Beach Towels, Summertime and water themed items and toys, Cards & Letters (you might want include a picture of you/your group with a dolphin - read about Solana above)

Post your ideas, packing parties or boxes and I will keep a running total for everyone up here!  Let me know if I misunderstand anyone and I'll fix the totals.  Thanks everyone!

Hip, hip, hoorah…off we go to the USS Higgins to say "Hey There in May" from all of us Molly Moms!!!      

[Debbie (Kevin's mom)]

My understanding is that cranking is 90 days of  basically helping out around the ship, not in your designated work field.   That may include 16 hours a day working in the laundry, washing dishes, serving food in the mess hall or in the officer's mess hall, etc.    This almost always happens to new sailors who are assigned to the ship. 

[HisMom]

ah hah, I see thanks for the info.

My new sailor son has just been assigned to the USS Bonhomme Richard.  Good luck to my boy. 

[Marybeth]

I tell people to think "peeling potatoes"  8)

[HisMom]

I really want to see the beach party!!!!!

 

[carols_kitchen]

I mailed my box but sent it parcel post to save $18 shipping.  It wouldn't fit in a flat rate box, and the priority on my box would have been $38.  Hope it doesn't linger on a dock somewhere.

[Molly Molly Fo Folly]

Good morning,

My name is XXXXXXX and I would like to thank you for your thoughtful and amazing care packages. We received 8 VERY large boxes today and the Chaplain and I passed them out to the crew. Everything arrived in great condition and the crew was very happy to receive all the goodies inside.

As you know, we are currently deployed in the XXXXX area and thoughts from home are very well received and welcomed. This is a tough life-style and all of the younger Sailors are amazed at the generosity from complete strangers back in the US. Us old salty dogs are once again touched and humbled by the caring and devotion that the families back home share with us. I am still amazed at the support we receive after 19+ years, 11 of which have been out to sea.

Please know that although many Sailors, Marines, Soldiers and Airmen do not or cannot respond to all the letters which are enclosed with the care packages, they are passed out and read for many days around the ship. Smiles and heartfelt thanks are in abundance for months and even years. I can personally tell you that I may forget some aspects of each of the 8 deployments I have made in my career, but I can remember every care package sent to me from family and stranger alike. For this is the impact you make upon us.

These packages are especially meaningful to me, as I was born and raised in Colorado. So for me, this is heartwarming to see that my home state supports us no matter where we are in the world.

God Bless you and thank you for your continued support of our Sailors.

Very Respectfully,


FCCS(SW)

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

What a wonderful and heartwarming letter!!  Thanks for sharing Molly.  It brought tears to my eyes (again) just thinking of the impact a bunch of boxes make & the fact that it amazes them to receive packages from strangers just overwhelms me.  I am so thankful to be a small part of this larger group.  This is the place for me to be - and I LOVE IT AND MOST ESPECIALLY EVERYONE OF MY FELLOW MOMMAS.

Thank you everyone.

[HisMom]

awwwwwwwww.  That is what I was waiting for..... that warm feeling oozing over me.  ahhhhhhhhhh.

 

[HisMom]

any word or PICS of the steel beach party?   really wanted to see them in the pools and at play

[carols_kitchen]

WE GOT A LETTER FROM THE HIGGINS!

Dear Mr & Mrs P

I just wanted to take the opportunity to give you a big thank you for your support and for putting together the care box for us females aboard the USS Higgins.  It really meant a lot to me knowing that we have all of your support even if we have never really crossed paths.  Me and my shipmates really loved your goodies, and I was the lucky one getting your pillowcase!:)

 

Words cannot really describe how thankful I am for your gifts and your help.  One more time thanks for taking your time and remembering those who are from home.

 God Bless you always,

 GMC Cxxxxxxxxx

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

But still no pics of them at play??

[carols_kitchen]

No pix.  This was a handwritten note.