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!!!      

[Kim (Ethan's Mom)]

Thanks for sharing Carol!

[Matt's Mom/Cathy]

What a sweet note Carol.  Brought tears to my eyes reading her message.

[Debbie (Kevin's mom)]

I believe that their steel beach picnic was changed and will be in the next couple of weeks.

[Dana]

Hi everyone!  I wanted to drop on in and say this one's for all of you!!!  AN ADOPTION FULL CIRCLE...

I received a beautiful card today from the USS Higgins thanking us for coming to their homecoming. It's us who thanks them. I want to share this card as it belongs to all the MOMS, volunteers and supporters who made pillowcases, donated, packed and shipped care packages, baked cookies and attended the homecoming.

The card reads:

"Hello Moms. Thank you, thank you, thank you for showing up with your hugs, cookies, smiling faces, and Hooter's Girls! You really helped make Higgins Homecoming that much more special. The duty section LOVED the goodies and the attention. I had many family members tell me how great you all were and I couldn't agree more! I hope that this is not the last we hear from you! Thank you! Much love - XXXX & USS Higgins"

My response would be "Have you ever known a mom to stay away?"

[MomByHeart]

Awesome!!! Thanks for posting.  What an encouragement.

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

Thanks for posting Dana!  How nice of them to remember us.  I know when I read the Navy newsletter that is emailed I always look first for things about the groups we've adopted.  Just want to keep up on their coming's and going's.  I love that mom with the poster - "Call Your Mom".  I'm gonna need that for my son after he leaves next month!!  :-/

[Dana]

That's our very own lovely Miss Haylie with the best example of the Hooter stance out of all of us - NO OFFENSE TO THE OTHER MOMS of course - LOL! 

[Denise (Dee)]

Love it !