Appreciation-to-PMF

PMF has been apart of this community for over 22+ years supporting over 200 local families and their loved ones while serving our country. Below are some heartwarming notes from some of them that we wanted to share with you.

We weren't just a support group, we will forever be a family.

This is such a wonderful group, and I can’t begin to tell you how much support I felt when my son was deployed to Turkey/Iraq in 2015 and my D-I-L to Afghanistan for 13 months in 2019 and then my son deployed to Afghanistan as well in 2020---ugh! It can be so lonely to be a parent in these situations! I would see those yellow flags hanging from the poles in Pleasanton or participate in the packouts and get a hug from Azi and Pat, and everything would be much more bearable. My son is still on active duty, but we’re hoping he won’t be deployed again anytime soon. Warmly, Amy

I was introduced to PMF by Pat Frizzell at a time when my son was going off on deployment as an explosive ordinance tech with the Navy somewhere in the Middle East. I can’t even begin to tell you how much this group has meant to me and what a comfort it was to have your support and to participate with such a great group of people and help others as well. It feels like one big extended family. Thank you and Blessings to all of you. Katherine

Standing in line to get a hot dog at Costco, I was telling my sister that I was going to join another out of town support group after the AOL chat room for empty nesters just didn’t cut since my daughter wasn’t going off to college! Chris Miller overheard me talking and introduced himself and talked about PMF; I joined that same night in 2009. This AMAZING support group has brought me peace when I needed it most; a shoulder to cry on, many care packages while my Marine was stationed in Okinawa & deployed out from there. I will forever cherish the lifelong friendships I have made because of PMF. I feel incredibly blessed to have been a part of this organization for the past 16 years and truly PMF has changed my life. Denise

PMF is such a huge part of all of our lives for so many years and we all fought the good fight. We can be proud of the good work we did for the cause and our troops. Still sad, it was a good run for a great cause. Tracey

I am so proud, grateful and humbled to have been part of PMF. Over the last 2 years I was not involved as I moved out of state and my son’s time in the Navy ended a number of years ago. I appreciate and love the deep friendships that have been forged and welcomed the tears and laughter. God speed to all of you and to our troops. Prayers that our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines stay safe wherever they are. Donna

During the last 20+ years most parents had no idea what their sons, daughters, husbands were getting into and that’s when PMF was really needed. They did an excellent job with everything they did, helping parents, the recruits, the citizens of all the surrounding towns and their friends and relatives. PMF was a giant info center for most of the parents that had family joining the military. I remember my sons were both in the Marine Corp, we did something with PMF 3-4 times a week, there was always something going on. I’ve made so many friends and worked with so many great people. I know we did a great job supporting our troops and their families and keeping our community informed about service members. I’m sad but I have hundreds of good memories. Eric

I think those who know me and my family are aware of how important this group was to us during my daughter’s years in the U.S. Army. I am forever grateful for the support, new friends, tears and laughter we’ve shared. Corinne

I was talking to a neighbor about PMF and about the 15 years we spent together and what it entailed and how special. We became family, brothers and sisters. I haven’t found anything like that since I moved away. I enjoyed the monthly meetings, the street fairs, making bracelets and laughs at our parties I loved the behind the scenes job I did. PMF should end in glory not just fade away or fizzle out. Hugs, Dorothy

Our family is proud to have been involved in something so much bigger than us. We participated at whatever level we could at the time. Our family appreciates PMF more than you know. PMF became a family tradition, collecting and packing as a family for so many years and then packing for our own Marine. It was an important and very personal project for our water polo team to collect donations of care and comfort items throughout their season to be shipped all over the world for our deployed/overseas men and women. I am super proud to be part of PMF, the group, the support and things accomplished. I’m hoping wars, for now and hopefully forever are a thing of stories and memories. It would be nice to have no one need us. We are better for being a part of this group and knowing all these good people not only as friends but as our family. Luree

This group was a Godsend to me (and Doug), especially during our son’s two tours in Afghanistan. The camaraderie and FRIENDSHIPS we formed are priceless. We did a Godly service and we were repaid in spades. Good job. Well done. Jan & Doug