thedrifter
11-07-06, 12:33 PM
November 07, 2006
Parris Island to reinstate holiday gift tradition
By John Hoellwarth
Staff writer
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., is bringing back a tradition it hasn’t observed in the last eight years: holiday presents.
Recruits who have made it past the third week of training will be allowed to buy presents at the post exchange; the gifts will be wrapped and mailed by volunteers from the depot and surrounding community, according to depot spokesman 1st Lt. Scott Miller.
Those at MCRD San Diego won’t be so lucky. Recruits there have never been allowed to buy presents and send them home during the holidays, and there are no plans to change that, according to depot spokeswoman and retired Master Sgt. Janice Hagar, who remembered mailing gifts home from Parris Island when she was a recruit 22 years ago.
The “Recruit Wrap” program ran from 1983 to 1998, when Parris Island discontinued it for reasons that are unclear. But Miller said the idea to reinstate the program came directly from Brig. Gen. Paul Lefebvre, Parris Island commanding general, who assumed command earlier this year.
Ellie
Parris Island to reinstate holiday gift tradition
By John Hoellwarth
Staff writer
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., is bringing back a tradition it hasn’t observed in the last eight years: holiday presents.
Recruits who have made it past the third week of training will be allowed to buy presents at the post exchange; the gifts will be wrapped and mailed by volunteers from the depot and surrounding community, according to depot spokesman 1st Lt. Scott Miller.
Those at MCRD San Diego won’t be so lucky. Recruits there have never been allowed to buy presents and send them home during the holidays, and there are no plans to change that, according to depot spokeswoman and retired Master Sgt. Janice Hagar, who remembered mailing gifts home from Parris Island when she was a recruit 22 years ago.
The “Recruit Wrap” program ran from 1983 to 1998, when Parris Island discontinued it for reasons that are unclear. But Miller said the idea to reinstate the program came directly from Brig. Gen. Paul Lefebvre, Parris Island commanding general, who assumed command earlier this year.
Ellie