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GovernorofKentuckyBestowsHonortoYMOYSgtMajDakotaRichterAYoungMarineSgtMajWhosAlsoaColonelQuestionCanapersonbeaYMS-gtMajandaColonelatthesametimeAnswerYesifyoureDakotaRichter17ofCrestviewHillsKentucky.LastMayYMSgtMajRichterwasnamedtheNationalYoungMarineoftheYearandonOct.142013shewasnamedaColonelintheHonorableOr-derofKentuckyColonelsataceremonyheldinHebronKY.TheHonorableOrderofKentuckyCol-onelsdoesnotappointorcommissionKentuckyColonelsrathertheappoint-mentsaremadebythesittingGovernoroftheCommonwealthandonlytheGovernorknowsthereasonforbestow-ingthehonorofaColonelsCommissiononanyparticularindividual.EachtimeIhavethepleasureofbe-stowingamembershiptothisexcep-tionalorganizationonanindividualsaidarecentKentuckyGovernorthegreattraditionestablishedbyKentuckysrstgovernorIsaacShelbyliveson.ThenameKentuckyColonelhasbecomesynony-mouswithstrengthofcharacterleader-shipanddedicationtothewelfareofothers.SomefamousColonelsincludeAshleyJuddWayneGretzkyRonaldReaganBobHopeBillClintonBettyWhiteMarieOs-mondMarioAndrettiNormanSchwar-zkopfOmarBradleyRoyRogersShirleyTempleBlackWinstonChurchillandofcourseColonelHarlanSandersfounderofKentuckyFriedChicken.ItsanabsolutehonortobeinsuchcompanyRichtersaid.CertainlyKen-tuckyColonelisatitleIdneverthoughtIdholdat17.AsmostwhomeetmeknowImverypassionateaboutmystateanditsremarkabletoberecognizedinsuchauniquehistoricalway.AKentuckyColonelisunwaveringinhisorherdevotiontofaithfamilyfel-lowmanandcountrypassionateaboutbeingcompassionateproudyethumblealeaderwhoisnotashamedtofollowandgentlebutstronginwillandcom-mitment.Richterhassuchqualitiesinspades.Shehasworkedveryhardandwithgreatdedicationandsheshadastellartrajec-torywiththeYoungMarines.Shejoinedwhenshewas11yearsoldandcurrentlysheisinhernalyearasamemberoftheNorthernKentuckyunit.LastMayshereceivedtheYoungMa-rineshighesthonorNationalYoungMa-rineoftheYear.Inadditionshehasearned42ribbonawardswiththeYoungMarinesprogramaswellastheDistinguishedOrderofMerittheDEAdeviceforherDrugDe-mandReductionribbontwonationally-awardedPersonalAchievementawardsRecruitHonorGraduateAdvancedLead-ershipSchoolHonorGraduateandmul-tiplePerfectPFTawards.RichterhasearnedthePresidentialVolunteerServiceAwardgoldandwasnamedanhonoraryU.S.MarineRider.YMSgtMajRichteristhepersonica-tionofallthatisgoodabouttheYoungMarinessaidMichaelKesslernationalexecutivedirectorandCEOoftheYoungMarines.Shehasdemonstratedleader-shipjudgmentandinitiativeandshehasbeensuperbasournationalrepresenta-tive.Herpassionasamentorforthekidsintheprogramreallyshinesthrough.AsNationalYoungMarineoftheYearRichteristravelingthroughoutthecoun-tryrepresentingtheYoungMarinesandsheisapositiverolemodelforthe10000youthmembersoftheYoungMarines.MyYoungMarinesretirementwillcer-tainlybeabittersweetdayafterallthattheprogramhasblessedmewithRich-tersaid.ItcomfortsmetoknowthatsimilartomymentorsIllbeabletogivebacktotheprogramasanAdultLeaderinfutureyears.RichterisonthevarsityswimteamatDixieHeightsHighSchoolinFt.MitchellKYwheresheisasenior.OneofhergoalswasrealizedrecentlywhensheheardshehasbeenacceptedtotheCoastGuardAcademy.Anothergoalistopublishabestsellingnovel.IamveryproudofDakotasacceptanceintotheCoastGuardAcademythoughnotatallsurprisedKesslersaid.Nextupabestseller-anothergoalthatIamcon-dentwillbeaccomplished.ESPRITPage3NationalYoungMarineOftheYearSgtMajDakotaRichterwithMr.HendricksandMr.Hufftwoofhermostinspiringmentorsatthe2013NationalLeadershipAcademy.