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ABOUT US
Julie Ann and Pavel Ivanov
| | Julie Ann Ivanov
When Julie Ann Ivanov realized that her eldest son, Kris, couldn't be home for Christmas last year, she knew just what to do: send Christmas to him. The 21-year-old Marine was in Iraq, 100 miles outside of Fallujah, and like all our troops deployed around the world, thrived on packages from home. Julie Ann's next step was figuring out what to send. She decided she'd create and fill a stocking for her son, and for good measure, one for each member of Kris's 50-person unit. The inspiration arose out of the incredible stress she was feeling. "When Kris left for Iraq in August, I was so worried about him, waiting for that knock on the door," says Julie Ann. "I prayed for something helpful I could do and then got the idea for the stockings." And that's how Operation Stocking Stuffer was born. Word quickly spread, and by November the stockings were ready to ship to Iraq --but instead of 50, there was now 700! |
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LtCol and Mrs M
| | Kelly M
Hello, my name is Kelly and I am a member of Operation Stocking Stuffer. My husband is a Marine and has served within the Corps both Active Duty and Reserve for 18 years. Like many other Marine Corps couples, we have spent the past 16 years of our marriage moving about the country with a logged 13 addresses in 4 different states. We have three beautiful daughters who are 13, 6 and 4 years of age.
My involvement with Operation Stocking Stuffer began while my husband was deployed for 10 months to Qatar and Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. As a wife of a Marine Corps Reservist, I do not live near a base and a Marine Corps presence and support system are not readily available. Once I hooked up with OSS, I felt that immediate esprit de corps of being taken care of by those like myself.......those who love the men who love and serve within the Marine Corps. OSS not only supports our deployed Marines but they provide practical (and fun) support for the wives, moms, daughters, sisters, aunts, and girlfriends of Marines. |
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Gene and Elisa Van Dyke
| | Elisa Van Dyke
Elisa has been married to her Marine for 22 years. A veteran of the Viet Nam war, her husband Gene received the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts during his time in country. She is very proud of all he has accomplished in the Marine Corps and very honored to be his wife. Gene and Elisa have four grown children Dirk, Curtis, Jacob and Aaryn along with 9 grand children. The newest addition to the Van Dyke family is Briyanna, daughter of PFC Jacob Van Dyke and his wife Chelsie. Their oldest son Dirk owns his own plumbing company, their son Curtis passed away at an early age. Her other son PFC Van Dyke, is currently in the Marine Corps, serving his country just like his father did. Her daughter Aaryn works full time and will be starting college in the fall. She also volunteers for Operation Stocking Stuffer.
Elisa was in full time ministry for 18 years as a Worship Leader and Bookstore Manager before embarking on a new adventure that lead her to becoming a part of Operation Stocking Stuffer. Elisa is currently an office manager for a HOA and commercial landscape company. She loves to spend time with her family and friends and encourage others whenever the opportunity arises. She has a great desire to encourage and help the families of deployed Marines while there loved one is serving over seas. Her parents taught her, "Always honor the men and women who so graciously and unselfishly served this country so you can have the freedoms you have today.” |
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