12th Annual
Operation Thin Mint® Sendoff Celebration
During a free community event on May 4, 2013, more than 2,600 local Girl Scouts, friends and family members gathered aboard the USS Midway Museum to celebrate sending 180,968 boxes of donated Girl Scout cookies to deployed U.S. military troops. The 12th annual Operation Thin Mint® Sendoff Celebration included activities for children and a ceremony.
Military personnel were guests of honor at the event, which included live music and helicopters carrying Girl Scouts who sold 2,013 or more boxes of cookies in 2013. Sendoff attendees had an opportunity to personally thank military troops for their service to the U.S. and to write messages of appreciation and support to accompany the cookies. Guests brought food items for the San Diego Food Bank to distribute to military families in need.
Cox Communications, represented by Senior Vice President/General Manager Dave Bialis, was presenting sponsor of the Operation Thin Mint® Sendoff Celebration. The USS Midway Museum has generously hosted the event since 2005.
Delana of Star 94.1 emceed the program. Participants included RADM Jonathan A. Yuen (Commander, NAVSUP Global Logistics Support), BGen Daniel Yoo (Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot/Western Recruiting District) and CAPT Sean Mahoney (Commander, Coast Guard Sector San Diego). Special guest Snigdha Nandipati - the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion - spelled Abu Dhabi, Yokosuka, Kandahar and the names of other faraway locales where U.S. troops enjoy "OTM" cookies. During Girl Scouts' recent "San Diego's 10 Cool Women of 2013" luncheon, Snigdha was named its first-ever "Cool Girl" and received a Girl Scout membership.
The Navy Band Southwest Ceremonial Unit, Girl Scout Ani Hesse, the Girl Scouts Glee Chorus and Star 94.1 provided music during the sendoff.
Sendoff sponsors
"Grown men do cry. The Thin Mint cookies brought back memories of home. With all our hearts, thank you for thinking of us."
— Deanna Moore, Supply Officer, USNS PATHFINDER (T-AGS-60)
