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thedrifter
10-06-08, 07:54 PM
Remembering Marines so far from home
By Caroline Keras
Correspondent
Nashoba Publishing
Article Launched:10/06/2008 10:44:19 AM EDT


When former Townsend residents Jayne Robtoy and Sgt. Michael Cannava started Devil Dog Advocates in January 2008 to provide support for Marines and their families, they could only dream about the success they would have in such a short time.

The couple, who will marry on Oct. 12, was inspired to start the organization after Cannava's four years of service in the Marines. As an attorney, Robtoy was able to incorporate the nonprofit quickly and at a low cost. The group was incorporated in May.

"I can file all of the paperwork myself, which makes it a lot easier," Robtoy said.

The name for the organization comes from a nickname used to describe Marines. The term "Devil Dog" dates back to World War I, when German soldiers described the American Marines as "teufel hunden," or "hounds from hell," for their ferocity in the Battle of Belleau Wood.

The North Middlesex graduates from the Class of 2000 moved to Alexandria, Va., in 2007, but they decided to hold their first care package drive in Townsend because of the strong connections they still have to their hometown.

"We still have a lot of contacts in Townsend. My family still lives there and that is where we both grew up," Robtoy explained.

On Sept. 14, members of Devil Dog Advocates were on the Townsend Common collecting items to put in boxes and sent to Marines in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Their goal for the Sept. 14 event was to fill 100 boxes to send as care packages to Marines overseas. They far surpassed that, filling all of the 132 boxes they had on hand. They also have 40 more boxes worth of items ready to be mailed.

"It went better that we could have ever expected," Robtoy said.

Robtoy made an arrangement with the post office to pick up around 30 packages a day from her mother's house in Townsend to be mailed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

The three main projects that the organization is focused on are care package gathering, letter-writing campaigns, and support for returning Marines.

The care package drive held in Townsend in September only scratches the surface of this aspect of the nonprofit's effort. The next drive they will organize takes place in Watertown, Conn., on Nov. 8. Holding the drive in Connecticut is part of an attempt to spread the organization beyond Townsend and Virginia.

"We have been in contact with the mother of a Marine from California who was killed," Robtoy said. "We want to be far reaching."

Letter-writing campaigns are another important project for Devil Dog Advocates. Robtoy registered the group on Anymarine.com, which assigns them the name of a Marine to write to. Robtoy then gives the name to a teacher that has agreed to have their class write every day, week or month. Anymarine is flexible and appreciates any and all participation it can get.

Finally, the organization offers various support to Marines who have returned home. One avenue is to offer résumé-writing services and job placement for Marines who are having a hard time finding civilian work. They also provide financial support for projects that assist injured soldiers, such as building a wheel chair ramp onto their house.

Besides these main projects, they also continue to advocate for other items that may be of interest to Marines. One such project is a Marine Recognition Dinner planned for Dec. 12 at the Pepperell VFW.

"It will be a sit-down formal dinner and tickets will be sold soon," Robtoy said.

On their Web site, devildogadvocates.wordpress.com, they post any news that may be of interest to Marines.

Any time there is talk of removing troops from the Middle East, new equipment being tested or issued, or Marines who have been killed in combat, Robtoy and Cannava will try to have the news posted by Tyler Rhodes, Jayne's cousin and the organization's webmaster.

For more information on getting involved with Devil Dog Advocates, contact Jayne Robtoy at (571) 257-6187, by mail at Devil Dog Advocates P.O. Box 7439 Alexandria, VA 22307, or e-mail jayne@devildogadvocates.org.

Ellie