Military & Veterans

If you want to provide a sweet treat to the brave hearts who serve our country, consider donating pre-packaged cookies for a special event benefitting Mission Viejo’s adopted Marines.

The City’s Marines and Sailors Adoption Committee is seeking pre-packaged cookie donations to distribute during the annual Lake Day event for members of the City’s adopted Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

Through the generosity of our community, several Marines and their families have been “adopted” this holiday season via our Adopt-A-Marine Family program. However, there are still many other military members available to adopt. 

Every year, members from our City’s Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division spend the holidays away from loved ones. In  In gratitude for their service, you can make a difference to these brave individuals by providing holiday gifts for a single Marine or Marine couple.  

You can make the holidays brighter for members of our adopted troops through a special promotion this season.

Simply purchase a tree or wreath through Rudy’s Christmas Trees’ website, and the business will donate a portion of the proceeds to benefit the City's adopted Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

The City’s Marine Adoption Committee and Mission Viejo Community Foundation work year-round to enhance the lives of our adopted Marines and Sailors of the Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division from Camp Pendleton. 

Thanks to generous community donations, more than 1,200 Marines and Sailors are supported every year. You can help support the men and women who fight for our freedoms through the Adopt-A-Marine program.  With your $50 annual donation to the program, a Marine can receive the following benefits throughout the year: 

The community is invited to commemorate Memorial Day during a special ceremony at The Kershaw Garden, 200 Civic Center. The City's Memorial Day ceremony will include guest speakers, a color guard, rifle salute, live vocals performances and taps. Coffee and light refreshments will be served after the ceremony. 

For more information will be served after the ceremony. 

For more information, call 949-470-3061

The City will pay homage to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country during its Memorial Day ceremony at 8:30 am on Monday, May 29 in The Kershaw Garden at 200 Civic Center. 

Donate new, unwrapped toys at any of our four Recreation and Tennis Centers, City Hall, or the Mission Viejo library. Toys are distributed to the children of active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton during their annual holiday party and toy distribution.

Toys will be collected starting Saturday, November 26 through Sunday, December 12.

Help make the holidays brighter for the families of our adopted Marines by donating new, unwrapped toys during a special donation drive from 9 to 11 am on Saturday, December 3 at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way. Led by the Mission Viejo Marines and Sailors Adoption Committee, the drive-through event will benefit members of the City’s adopted Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

You can make the upcoming holiday season brighter for some families of our City’s adopted Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division through the annual Adopt-A-Marine program.