SUBJ: OPERATION PURPLE SUMMER CAMPS
1. OPERATION PURPLE, A PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL MILITARY FAMILY
ASSOCIATION (NMFA), OFFERS FREE, WEEK-LONG OVERNIGHT CAMPS OPEN TO
MILITARY CHILDREN AGES 7-17. CHILDREN OF COAST GUARD AND PUBLIC
HEALTH SERVICE PERSONNEL ARE ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND. PRIORITY IS GIVEN
TO THOSE CHILDREN WHO HAVE OR WILL HAVE A PARENT OR GUARDIAN
DEPLOYED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND DECEMBER 2009, BUT ALL ARE
ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
2. THE GOAL OF THE OPERATION PURPLE PROGRAM IS TO BRING CHILDREN
OF DEPLOYED SERVICE MEMBERS TOGETHER FOR AN EXCITING AND MEMORABLE
CAMP EXPERIENCE. THIS EXPERIENCE IS GEARED TOWARD GIVING THEM THE
ADDITIONAL TOOLS TO HELP DEAL WITH THE STRESS RESULTING FROM A
PARENTS DEPLOYMENT AND TO IMPART THE MESSAGE "KIDS SERVE TOO."
3. CAMPER REGISTRATION IS CURRENTLY OPEN THROUGH 20 APRIL 2009.
DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OPERATION PURPLE CAMPS, INCLUDING
LOCATIONS AND DATES, CAN BE FOUND BY GOING TO THE NMFA WEBSITE AT
HTTP://WWW.NMFA.ORG, AND CLICKING ON THE "OPERATION PURPLE CAMPS"
ICON. APPLICATIONS FOR OPERATION PURPLE CAMPS MUST BE RECEIVED BY
20 APRIL 2009.
4. OPERATION PURPLE ALSO OFFERS LEADERSHIP CAMPS FOR MILITARY
TEENS WHO HAVE SHOWN AN ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO LEAD AND MENTOR
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.  CAMPS WILL BE HELD IN IDAHO, COLORADO AND
FLORIDA. INFORMATION ABOUT THIS NEW PROGRAM IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT
THE NMFA WEBSITE. APPLICATIONS FOR OPERATION PURPLE LEADERSHIP
CAMPS MUST BE RECEIVED BY NMFA BY 8 MAY 2009.
5. QUESTIONS REGARDING OPERATION PURPLE CAMPS MAY BE DIRECTED TO
OPERATIONPURPLE(AT)NMFA.ORG.
6. COMMANDING OFFICERS AND OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE ARE STRONGLY
ENCOURAGED TO ENSURE THE WIDEST DISTRIBUTION POSSIBLE TO MEMBERS
AND THEIR FAMILIES.
7. CAPT LORI A. MATHIEU, ACTING DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND
WORK-LIFE, SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.