The web site answers questions about paying bills, understanding power-of-attorney, finding the Marine's overseas address, how the APO/FPO mail system works, and many more guidelines for understanding the process and meaning of deployment. The web site allows for content contributions and announcements of support group meetings around the US as well as rallies to support the troops. The web site is updated several times throughout the day, including evenings and weekends.

When asked about the communication, Della Vecchia responded, "Not knowing when or if a war will start, creates a lot of anxiety for these parents, and they want to know where their sons and daughters are. Understanding the structure of the Marine Corps and how the battalions fit inside the regiments has become critical to these worried parents. Every shred of information helps to ease the intensity of these emotions."

Another section of the web site provides toll free numbers for parents and family members to ask questions and hear pre-recorded messages about the activities of particular Marine Corps units deployed to Kuwait. And with many parents reporting that their sons or daughters have been allowed to make a phone call to home, Della Vecchia has now published a page about how the phone calls come in, whether it be via satellite or calling centers, collect or AT&T calling cards. The page includes tips for getting a calling card to your son or daughter overseas. Della Vecchia says "It helps the parents understand how the phone communications can work; these folks don't want to leave any stone unturned if it means even a brief phone call from their son or daughter."

The information on the web site has been collected and published over the last two months in direct response to the emails received by Della Vecchia. "Accuracy is a primary focus; researching answers to the questions is time consuming, but the results are worth it. The web site gives parents and family accurate, easy-to-navigate information, and the result is parents and family that are better able to cope with the vast emotions of the possible conflict in Iraq."

When asked how she manages a personal response to the hundreds of daily email, Della Vecchia responded "I'm able to answer the email questions by referring folks to particular pages on the web site; I can do that with just a few keystrokes because I know the content of the web site. And then I tell them I understand how they feel. And I truly do. That's as important as the answer to their question right now. I know; I'm the mother of a Marine too."

In response the emails she has received about stress related to the war, Della Vecchia has also developed several pages on the site with links to articles and information to help ease stress and understand the emotions of war. "Having a son over there motivates me to research some of this for myself, and sharing what I've found online is helping hundreds of other parents, sisters, brothers, wives, and families of our Marines. We're helping each other through communications on the web site." The web site is updated several times throughout the day and changes based on the current situation in Iraq and the needs expressed by Marine families.

There is a section of homecomings devoted to letters and phone calls to home from the Marines themselves, however Della Vecchia cautions that the information printed on the web site from the Marines may not be accurate, and that ultimately, the official word of homecoming needs to come directly from the USMC. The web site includes toll free numbers to call to verify homecoming dates and arrivals. Della Vecchia says the web site will also include photos of homecomings that are contributed by parents and family that visit the web site.

Emotions were running high for Della Vecchia and hundreds of other families while waiting for the busses filled with returning Marines to arrive at Twentynine Palms from March Air Force Base. "We had all been praying and supporting each other, waiting for this day. I remember telling people when they were really feeling down about the war, to imagine themselves hugging their Marine on a day just like this," said Della Vecchia. "It was absolutely thrilling to meet so many people that I had communicated with in such a personal way during the past five months." Della Vecchia's son was surprised by the activity centered around his mom; he'd heard about the web site but had no idea how much traffic and support the site and his mom had generated. "I knew she was going to do something like this," Jensen said. "I'm just glad he's home and I may never let go," responded Della Vecchia.

On January 21, 2003, www.MarineParents.com was launched by Mrs. Della Vecchia to collect information and provide links as a reference for parents and friends of deployed Marines. The website provides information on the deployment process, base camp locations, sending care packages and mail, units deployment hotlines, list of embedded reports, and provides answers to frequently asked questions about paying bills, power-of-attorney, and finding overseas addresses. The website also allows for content contributions from families of deployed Marines and has announcements of support group meetings and rallies, and offers a moderated chat room so families can share their experiences.

From a noble beginning, site usage grew to 12,000 visitors daily. At the height of the Iraq conflict, Mrs. Della Vecchia was personally answering 300 to 400 emails a day from parents, wives, family and friends of Marines who visited the site.

Mrs. Della Vecchia was nominated by the Marine Corps Community Services out of Quantico, Virginia. The "Spirit of Hope" Award is given to USO entertainers and other distinguished Americans whose patriotism and dedication to the men and women of the Armed Forces reflects that of the USO's Ambassador of Good Will, Bob Hope. Award recipients will be selected after June 24, 2003.