Family Host Five Local Marines For Christmas Eve Dinner
LA QUINTA – Close to 1,900 Marines will spend Christmas at the 29 Palms Marine Combat Center in 29 Palm away from family.It can be an especially tough time and because of that,one Coachella Valley family is trying to brighten up five Marines’ holiday with a home cooked Christmas dinner.
Private Nohely Marquesis fromLas Vegas, New Mexicoand stationed at 29 Palms. This is thefirst Christmasshe’llspend away from home.Marquez says, “It’s good to have aplace to go to eat, it means a lot and I’m thankful for doing this for me.” It may not be home,but a home cooked meal with all the trimmings is the next best thing for these hungry Marines. Private Pablo Lucio isn’t able to see hisfamily this Christmas in Texas, but admitsa night with the Stone family is a blessing.
Erica Stone runs Soldiers Organized Services orS.O.S. for short. It’s a non-profit that gives Marines rides to and from Palm Springs Airport and the 29 Palms Combat Center. Erica and her mother knew there’d be a lot of Marines away from home and decided to adopt five of them this holiday season and cook them a Christmas dinner. Stone says, ” “. Stone plans to adopt Marines again next Christmas.
Soldiers Organized Services is in need of volunteer drivers, gas cards and donations. If you’d like to help log onto its website. www.sosride.org
