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ESPRIT Page 11 By YMPVT Nicholas Waltrip Hamilton MD HamiltonYoung Marines participated in many events to raise awareness for Red Ribbon Week. Each day that week we set up at different locations throughout Baltimore MD asking that people sign our banner pledging to be drug-free. During Red Ribbon Week we filled up two large banners with signatures from children and adults. It was encouraging to see people signing our banner tak- ing the pledge to be drug-free. Knowing that people signed our pledge banners makes me happy because it shows they are drug free just like me. Many people said they were proud of us for being in the Young Marines and living a healthy drug-free life. Our unit also received several proclama- tions including one from the Governor of Maryland Larry Hogan and one from the mayor of Baltimore Stephanie Raw- lings-Blake. My unit also had the MDTA Police Department visit us and give a K-9 demonstration and talk to us about the dangers of drug abuse. I think that Hamilton Young Marines learned a lot during Red Ribbon Week. Im proud to say Im a Young Marine. Hamilton We Learned a Lot During Red Ribbon Week One Young Marines Opportunity to Learn About South Korea Scenes from an unforgettable trip YMSgt Mark Rigano travelled to South Korea and took part in ceremonies that honored the ties between the people of both nations. By YMSgt Mark Rigano White Plains NY I have been a member of the Young Marines of White Plains for four years and hold the rank of Sergeant. My unit is the oldest continuously-running Young Marine unit in the country and my Unit Commander Mr. Lucian Caldara has been leading it ever since it was founded fifty years ago. It was an incredible honor to be se- lected to travel with Mr. Caldara to Seoul South Korea last September. He had served in the Marine Corps and was stationed in Asia. I was very excited to learn I had been selected to go on this trip the experience was far more incredible than I could have ever imag- ined. Visiting South Korea was the greatest experience of my young life. It was an invaluable experience and opportunity to be able to immerse myself in the cul- ture meet wonderful people and study the history of Korea first hand. The experience was made even more incredible because throughout the trip Mr. Caldara and I were in the company of a retired Republic of Korea Marine Sgt Maj Kyung-Seo Kang who is also the Chairman of the Korean American Friendship Association. He guided us as we visited many historic locations and public landmarks such as the Demilita- rized Zone the Inchon landing site the National Cemetery several museums and military outposts and bases. At the Demilitarized Zone or DMZ I was given a private escort by a ROK soldier into a tunnel excavated by North Koreans in an attempt to infiltrate the city of Seoul. The DMZ was established at the end of the Korean War to serve as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. At the strategic port of In- chon we saw an incredible re-enactment of the U.S. Marines sur- prise amphibious landing on the 65th anniversary of this historical event. On September 15 1950 the U.S. Marines recaptured the port from the North Korean troops. U.S. Army Gen Douglas MacArthur successfully led the United Nations and South Korean forces in the battle to recapture the South Korean capital of Seoul from the North Korean Peoples Army. This battle is considered to be one of the most decisive military operations in modern warfare. At the National Cemetery I was treat- ed as a special guest and participated in a ceremony honoring fallen South Korean veterans. On the stage adorned with memorial floral arrangements and flanked by both a ROK Marine and a Korean Naval Seaman I placed a white flower on the altar be- low the South Korean flag. Following the ceremony I joined more than 30 Kore- an Marine veterans for din- ner at their annual meeting. I reflect on my trip and my unique experiences were not ones of a tourist but more of a guest who was treated as a VIP on every occasion. I concluded my trip by reconnecting with a childhood friend from elementary school. I had not been in contact with him since he and his parents moved to South Korea several years ago. We had dinner at a local restaurant walked around Seoul and talked about the things that hap- pened in our lives since he left the United States. Throughout my visit I found the South Korean people to be very kind and generous. I returned home with some unique gifts to go along with my many incredible experiences. Semper Fi