By YM/Pvt Lance Kitchens Rocket City (AL) It was my first Red Ribbon Week as a Young Marine. Our Unit Commander asked us to give classes at our schools about Red Ribbon Week and how to stay drug free. I was a little nervous, but that’s okay. I taught them about the founding of Red Ribbon Week and how Enrique Camarena, a former Marine and a DEA agent, tried to help keep drugs from Mexico out of the United States. I also asked them if someone asked you if you want some drugs what would they say? They all replied,“NO!” I taught the older kids about Enrique Camarena and what drugs can do to your life, such as the effect it has on your facial appearence and what can happen to you when you get into abusing drugs. I also talked to them about the meaning of Red Ribbon Week, and what it means to live drug free. Everyone received Red Ribbons, a little goody bag on how to live drug free, and a pledge card that you sign and put in your wallet that says you will live drug free. The whole class signed a poster pledging they would live drug free. Rocket City: Teaching About the History of Red Ribbon Week By YM/Sgt Kiera Base Eagle (CA) The Eagle (CA) Young Marines went to Harbor Days to vol- unteer to help the City of Oceanside with its Information Drug Demand Reduction Booth. Harbor Days commemorates early Oceanside back in the 1800’s and early California Settlers. Many volunteers were needed to help guide and direct the public on the whereabouts of many, many booths, old fire trucks, double decker bus rides, a tall ship tour and the Pirates Cove experience and adventure. Young Marines handed out many maps and programs for the City of Oceanside to many guests. There were many mili- tary static displays such as the Amtraks, Amphibious Assault Vehicles, Landing Craft, Air Cushion, Vehicles, Light Armored Reconnaissance Vehicles and many more. The Eagle Young Marines escorted the elderly across the streets and helped them manage walking in the deep sand. Many parents and their kids stopped to ask us how do we be- come Young Marines and we were also able to give an exam- ple of the great training and what it meant to us. We also got to pass out a lot of flyers about the Young Marines program. The City of Oceanside was very pleased with our unit. We were also interviewed by KCOT-Oceanside Channel about our unit.The reporter came to me and I asked what I thought about Harbor Days and the Young Marines program. With a smile, I said,“We believe in giving more than you ask for, ma’am.” I also told the reporter a lot of the things we get to do. They were really amazed. It was a beautiful day with lots of smiles from everyone...even from the Pirates. Eagle Unit Volunteers,Takes DDR Message to Oceanside Community Event By YM/PFC Quintasia Lytle Mitchell County (GA) Last December, the fire department at the Marine Corps Lo- gistics Base in Albany, GA taught Cardiopulmonary Resuscita- tion (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Classes to the Albany Young Marines and the Mitchell County Young Marines. The fire fighters made it fun for the Young Marines to learn to save lives. Congratulations to Young Marines who received a certificate for completing the program: YM/CPL Anthony Hill, YM/PFC Dedreon Knight, YM/PFC Makayla Mosley, YM/PVT Brayden Dixon, YM/PVT Amor Jackson and YM/PVT Triviana Tarver. During the months of January and February,YM/PFC Dedreon Knight taught Drug Demand Reduction classes, with a focus on alcohol abuse. He used a poster themed with the topic “Why Young People Drink”. YM/PFC Knight made effective use of eye contact and distrib- uted printed materials during his presentation. His presentation stressed the dangers involved in abusing alcohol and advised his audience to avoid drinking. In February,YM/PFCYagaira Marti- nez promoted the idea of a healthy , drug free lifestyle with presenta- tions about the dangers involved in tobacco use. Students in the Mitch- ell County (GA) school system heard her presentation, which addressed both short term and long term ef- fects of the use of tobacco. Her pre- sentationmincluded the issues of teen smoking, which is important, since so many smokers begin smok- ing when they are under the age of 18 years of age. Both Mitchell County Young Marines did an excellent job. and we thank them for teaching students in the Mitchell County school system about the health risks involved in abusing alco- hol and tobacco. Georgia YMs Learn Life Saving,Teach Drug Demand Reduction 8 YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE