22 YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE My Community Service: Helping the Elderly By YM/Pvt James “Walker” Harris Rutherford County (TN) When I learned of the Young Marines’ committment to community service, I knew that I wanted to do something to help the elderly. I started my project by asking for my mom’s help in getting our family and friends to donate items for nursing home patients. We collected soap, lotions, facial tissue, toothpaste and brushes, socks, lip balms and other items. I bagged the items for individu- al use and tied them with a ribbon. I spent four hours delivering the pack- ages to more than forty residents of a local assited living facility. All were very happy to have a visitor and graciously received the items. Many said they had just run out of a specific item we had given them. I recommend that my fellow Young Ma- rines try to volunteer or help at a nursing home. Some of the elderly cannot always fend for themselves; one of the ladies was a teacher who just turned 102 years old. The residents really appreciate you bringing them things they need and having visitors, it really makes their day. Walker Harris is assisted as he distributes health and grooming items at an elderly care facility. By YM/PFC Erick Henriquez Camp Courtney Young Marines As a newly promoted Private First Class (I’ve been in the Young Marines for less than a year), I was selected to be part of one of the most amazing traditions held by the United States Marine Corps, the cake cutting ceremony. I did not know the significance of the cake cutting ceremony until I asked my father. Once I understood the meaning, I felt my chest puff up with pride because I felt that my father and I were part of the same Corps. Seeing Lieutenant Colonel Scott pass- ing the cake down to youngest Young Marine PVT Coyne was amazing because, I was able to see how important it is for my generation to understand the sacri- fices Marines make. By being a part of the ceremony, I realized the importance of the tradition and it filled me with a whole lot of motivation and dedication to my fellow Young Marines. Some peo- ple may think you’re just walking with a cake and it’s not important, but for me it means a bond with Marines and a legacy that I respect. Ohh-Rahh! Camp Courtney: The 9th Engineer Support Battalion Kid’s Ball In Okinawa, a newly discovered respect for an enduring Marine tradition. Toys For Tots: We Showed People What Young Marines Represent By YM/LCpl Daniel Kocsis Upstate (SC) One of our goals in the Young Marines is to help others in any way we can. One way we do that is by helping with “Toys for Tots.” Every year at the Harley David- son dealership in Greenville, SC, our team meets hundreds of motorcyclists and we collect toys that we load into 7-ton trucks provided by the Marine Corps. All of the toys then go to children who otherwise would have received nothing at Christmas. This year we collected more than 2,000 toys. Toys for Tots is one of my favorite events because I get to help the children who do not have the privileges that we take for granted. I also love to get out there with our team to show people what Young Marines rep- resent by contributing to the needs of our community. We meet many people who learn about the Young Marines program and want to work with us.