On January 23, 2018, the City Council of the City of San Diego issued a proclama- tion to and for YM/MSgt Righthouse, de- claring the date, Sophia M. Righthouse day in the City of San Diego. The proclamation was presented by Councilmember Chris Cate during the City Council meeting. Young Marines Di- vision 6 Commanding Officer Wilson Lee was present, as well as dignitaries from the Poway School District, Girl Scouts USA, and the San Diego Police Depart- ment. YM/MSgt Righthouse received the hon- or for her heroism and bravery, and her numerous accolades and achievements in the Young Marines, NJROTC, and Girl Scouts USA. On November 4, 2017, YM/MSgt Right- house, dressed in her Service C uniform, was enroute to stand on a Battalion Young Marine of the Year board when she recognized the signs of a structure fire, took action and personally assisted with the evacuation of a condominium complex in Rancho Penasquitos. YM/MSgt Righthouse conducted the evacuations, at peril to her own life and safety, in a calm, professional manner at- tributed to her training with the Young Marines. Council Member Chris Cate said, “I think it’s something that is really true bravery. For someone, her age to have those instincts, and recall the training that she received, is something that not only kids her age, but also adults, need to take notice of.” In the Young Marines, her accolades include earning Honor Graduate dur- ing Recruit Training, Junior Leadership School, and Senior Leadership School, Young Marine of the Year at the Unit, Battalion, and Regimental levels, com- pleting more than 600 community ser- vice hours, scoring her 11th Perfect Physical Fitness Award, and founding the Valuing our Veterans flagpole pro- gram, where she gathers funding to pur- chase 20-foot flagpoles for local military veterans in recognition for their service. The flagpoles are installed by Young Ma- rines and presented to the veterans with a Color Guard ceremony. In Naval JROTC at Westview High School, where she is a 4.0 student, she serves the community as a Cadet Sea- man. She earned the title of Honor Ca- det in Basic Leadership Training and has been awarded a Certificate of Merit and the Meritorious Achievement Ribbon, the highest honor that is bestowed on a member of JROTC. She is First Squad Leader and a mem- ber of the Field Meet Team,competing in Physical Fitness,Academics, Color Guard, and Unarmed Drill. In Girl Scouts USA, she serves her com- munity as a Senior Girl Scout and has earned the prestigious Bronze and Sil- ver Awards. -- Submitted by Bret A. Righthouse, Unit Commander, Miramar (CA) Young Marines Editor’s Note: Read a full account of the incident for which Sophia was recognized in our online edition. San Diego Honors a Young Marine’s Heroic Actions A Young Marine Applies Her Training to a Real Life Emergency (Above): YM/MSgt Righthouse with her grandmother, Janice Clayton. (Center): Holding the Proclamation (Far Right): YM/MSgt Righthouse with San Diego Councilmember Chris Cate YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE 21