Editor, Manteca Bulletin,

It was with great sadness that we read the Memorial Day Parade was cancelled. We had a parade planning meeting scheduled that morning and planned to submit our completed entry form on the deadline Monday! We are so very grateful to this community, the Manteca Bulletin and the Chamber of Commerce for their support in years past for establishing the parade and for the opportunity we had to participate. We are saddened about the high cost of insurance and/or the lack of funds generated by the parade participants to make a go of the parade.

We are planning a Celebration of Life Get Together Five Year Commemoration in honor of our Son Charles O. Palmer II on May 26. We are honored to have five Marines who served with Charles in Iraq (CPL Porta will be one of these). We plan to visit his graveside, the plaque at Big League Dreams and then enjoy a BBQ and sharing time at one of our CPL Charles O. Palmer Troop Support Program Volunteers home.

On Sunday May 27, we will have a CPL Charles O. Palmer Memorial Troop Support Program Booth at the Memorial Day event. We will be selling Support our Troops T-Shirts, giving out troop names so individuals can send their own care package to a troop, collecting items for our next Troop Box Packing Party.We will also be raffeling a homemade American Flag afghan.

Our next Troop Box Packing Party is scheduled for June 23, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Strike Zone(Manteca Bowling alley). Everyone is invited! Types of donations needed and appreciated are cash for postage, snacks, white socks, magazines, personal hygiene items, and fun stuff!

Thank you for your continual support of our program.

Chuck and Teri Palmer

Manteca

May 18, 2012