Welcome the Semper Fi Sisters

Brenda Garth has spent considerable time since her two children entered the military becoming involved in the war front back home.

Part support group, part social network, Garth has become, through Internet and phone calls, a member of what she and her group like to call the Semper Fi sisters.

This is a sisterhood in every way.

When one is down there are sisters to boost spirits. When help is needed, sisters are just a touch of a screen or a keypad away.

They are there, mostly, to hold each other in a proverbial hug, through the ether or phone line, as they anxiously await the return of their loved ones from war zones in the Middle East.

Part balm, part a shoulder, or shoulders to lean on, to cry on.

“We began as a small group of online (United States Marine Corps) recruit moms that were together as our sons went through boot camp and we learned quickly that we were a great support for one another and wanted to be able to share what we were learning with others (new moms to this military journey),” Garth said.

“One huge benefit was to have those who have gone before us – to come in and offer the cover of their wings of support and to share their wisdom with us.”

These are women who understand as only they can what sending a child or spouse off to war means. There is a thread that binds them in a club that is both exclusive and inclusive at the same time.

Beginning Wednesday and running through this weekend, Garth has secured a house at WindMark Beach for these women to gather.

They are gathering to enjoy a slice of paradise to take their minds off of their children and husbands, if that is possible, for a weekend, to view the beach and be coddled in the warm embrace of a special and patriotic community.

Coming from around the country, these Semper Fi Moms are being hosted by Moms from Gulf, Bay and Franklin counties. There is a weekend of events planned and the community is already reaching out.

Many local merchants have donated items and services, such as Smiley's Beach Rentals, Bayside Florist & Gifts, Gulf Coast Vacation Rentals, Gulf County Tourist Development, FairPoint Communications, St. Joe Rental, Decorative Flooring, Rish Tupelo Honey, Ed's Red Hot Sauce, Seahorse Water Safaris and the Gulf County Chamber of Commerce.

 “These ladies, my Semper Fi Sisters, will have the pleasure of enjoying gorgeous Gulf County beaches, our beautiful bay, shopping, dining, relaxing and seeing how wonderful, generous and supportive our community is for the fine men and women, their sons and daughters, that serve our great nation,” Garth said.

But the weekend is not all fun and games. There is work to do as the ladies will also be packing boxes of supplies to be shipped to military personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq. While Marines hold a special place for this group, they don’t discriminate when it comes to every branch of the military.

But they need help.

Each UPS flat rate box costs $11.95 to ship to a soldier, sailor, airman, coastie or Marine.

Boxes are not shipped to a unit, but individuals. Anyone knowing of a Gulf County resident fighting overseas is encouraged to contact Garth to provide a name and address.

There is also a need for items, beyond donations for postage, to go into the boxes:

Baby Wipes, magazines-current to 3 months old (sports, money, current events), socks (black or white), waterless soap, liquid body wash, hand sanitizer, lotion, toilet paper, Kleenex travel size boxes,  sun block, Aloe Vera, throat lozenges, gum, Lifesavers, mints, eye drops, Blistex, Chapstick, Vaseline, Carmex, Aspirin, Motrin, Tylenol, Pain Relievers (in original unopened packages), saline spray/drops for sensitive nasal passages, Q-tips, feminine hygiene products for women, travel size or samples of shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash and deodorant;

Foot Powder, travel size or regular, baby powder, Shower-to-Shower Powder (note: be sure the any powder is in it is sealed, original container and in a Ziploc bag), Moleskin, laundry soap (small single-load packages, trial sizes, or 'tablets' that are easier to manage and store), batteries (AA, AAA, C), tactical duct tape: military green, tan, black, gray, electrical tape, flashlight with a red lens, one- and two-gallon Ziploc plastic bags, Frisbee, Nerf Footballs, Hacky Sack, deck of cards, hand-held games, fruit roll-ups, Power bars, protein bars, nutritional bars, Beef jerky, beef summer sausage (non-perishable; labeled USDA Beef), small bags of snacks or individually wrapped snacks;

Pop Tarts, cereal bars, "milk & cereal" bars, granola bars, Jalapeño Velveeta and crackers, ED's RED, Tupelo Honey, multi-purpose seasoning like Lowery’s or Jayne’s Seasoning (original sealed containers), small packages of crackers (cheese and/or peanut butter) and small individual packages of cookies (Oreos, Chips Ahoy).

All items or donations for shipments for our Armed Forces may be dropped off at Decorative Flooring, located at 305 Third Street in Port St. Joe.

For additional information or to make a donation, please contact Brenda Garth at 850-899-7721.

Give to those who are giving for us every day, 24/7, in a far-off land in life-threatening conditions.

And embrace the Semper Fi Sisters, show them what kind of special community this really is, one that symbolizes what is worth fighting for.