MY YM UNIT Honor Flight: An Event to Celebrate Veterans By YM/SSgt Mace Bond Hendricks County (IN) Indy Honor Flight takes Indiana veterans to Washington, DC. They go on a tour of D.C. and then they are brought back to Indianapolis at the end of the day. They are then taken from the plane, to a bus where they are driven to Plainfield High School When they arrive at the high school, they are taken to the gym where a huge crowd of cheering fans wait for them. There are usu- ally more than 500 people, made up of family, friends and people who want to thank veterans. Many people make signs and wear red white and blue,and it’s very touching to all the veterans. At one point, there are two ladies, dressed in 1940’s style dresses, with bright red lipstick, who are called the “kissing girls”. These girls stand on each side of the WWII veterans as they pass by and each of them kisses them on the cheek. At the Honor Flight event before last, there was no one to kiss the female Veterans that were on the flight so they asked for the highest ranking Young Marine and one other to be the “kissing guys”. Well, on that night, I hap- pened to be the highest ranking Young Marine there, so I was asked along with another Young Marine, YM/Pvt Russell. At first, I thought it was weird, but after a while, I considered it an honor. There were four female Veterans on the flight and after we were done, I thought it was cool to be able to do that for them, and what a great experi- ence. The next day, Indy Honor Flight shared a picture (seen here) on their website, and Facebook. YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE 5 Reaching New Heights… Thanks to the Young Marines YM/Sgt Yesenia Vargas of Southland YM Unit is Awarded a Full Scholarship By YM/MGySgt Ellie M.Trahern, Public Affairs Officer, Division 6 Young Marines, the skills you learn through this program can help you in the future. Take YM/Sgt Yesenia Vargas,for example.Recently,she was awarded a four year full scholarship to go to any California college of her choice, and a chance to get a Bioengineering degree. She is a mem- ber of the Southland Young Marines, based in San Dimas, California. Yesenia’s Young Marines career started by chance; “I joined with my cousin. He was two years older than me, and I was determined to fin- ish as strong as I could,” says Vargas.“One thing I remember from re- cruit training is the instructors motivating me on the run to keep go- ing.” YM/Sgt Vargas began when she was ten years old, and doesn’t regret joining the Young Marines. Her mother,Ana Vargas, is extremely grateful for the Young Marines program, and what it has done for her daughter. She said that al- though her daughter wanted to go, getting her there wasn’t always easy. “The sacrifice was worth it,” says Mrs. Vargas’. “I am grateful for the Young Marines program.” When asked what advice YM/Sgt Vargas had for other Young Ma- rines, she said “Keep going, and keep applying yourself.” Her words certainly reflect her career, and the way in which she car- ries herself. In talking to her, I was immediately drawn to her deter- mination towards her goals and how she credits the Young Marines for helping her achieve those goals. I cannot wait to see what she achieves in the future, and what impact she will make on the world, thanks to the Young Marines.