Cameras roll for holiday greetings (Awwww,.....)

Marine Corps News ^ | Dec 13, 2005 | Cpl. Antonio Rosas

[SandRat]

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Dec. 13, 2005) -- Family members of deployed Marines and sailors from Camp Pendleton were able to send a very special holiday greeting to their loved ones serving overseas Monday.

WesCorp, a corporate credit union, kicked off Operation Best Wishes last weekend allowing servicemembers’ families to record a 10 minute video session which will be archived onto a website where it can be viewed an unlimited number of times.

The operation is just one of several ways the credit union is reaching out to the military and giving thanks.

“We consider credit union members family,” said Laura Micklich, 32, from Upland, Calif., a public affairs officer with WesCorp credit union. “We just want to thank them for all they’ve done.”

For one Marine wife and thier two kids, this year marked the second time going through the hardship of spending Christmas without their Marine.

Adrianne Harper, wife of Cpl. David M. Harper, 26, a rifleman with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance, 1st Marine Division, played ‘paddy cake’ with her children while wishing him a Merry Christmas.

“I know he’s going to watch it over and over and I know he’s going to cry,” said Adrianne.

Meanwhile, David Junior, 3, prompted his dad to come home so they could work on his "big truck" and go to the park.

Harper praised the operation and was thankful for the opportunity to be a part of something like this.

“This is huge,” said Adrianne. “My husband cried when he found out about this.” For some Marines it wasn’t just a wife or child being telecast. It was his dogs.

Cynthia Quintero, 23, wife of Staff Sgt. Alex Quintero, 30, from El Paso, Texas, dressed up their tiny Chihuahua in a red holiday dress because that was, “his baby,” said Cynthia Quintero.

Once the cameras started rolling, Quintero poured her heart out to her husband and wished him a safe return. Staff Sgt. Quintero, an artilleryman with E Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, has been gone for three months and is scheduled for an April return.

The operation is not exclusive to Camp Pendleton as similar recording sessions are held at bases in San Diego and on the east coast at Camp Lejeune.

The union also holds food drives and sends care packages overseas to benefit service members. This is the second year they’ve held the operation and they plan to continue it well through next year.

[SandRat]

David Junior Harper, son of Cpl. David M. Harper, a rifleman with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division records a ten minute video session for his father who is currently serving in Iraq. His mother Adrianne and sister Brooklyn were also featured in the video for their father who will be able to view the video unlimited times on a website. The video is part of Operation Best Wises which holds recording sessions at several Marine Corps Bases. Photo by: Cpl. Antonio Rosas

Adrianne Harper, wife of Cpl. David M. Harper, a rifleman with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division records a ten minute video session for her husband who is currently serving in Iraq. Their two children David Junior and Brooklyn also played 'paddy cake' for their father who will be able to view the video unlimited times on a website. The video is part of Operation Best Wises which holds recording sessions at several Marine Corps Bases. Photo by: Cpl. Antonio Rosas

[SandRat]

Marine families connecting at Christmastime.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT