Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46MYYM UNIT Guadalupe Valley: Color Guard at a Hockey Game Guadalupe Valley (TX) Young Marines were invited to per- form Color Guard for the opening ceremony for the San An- tonio Rampage Hockey team. All members of our unit and their families attended the event and enjoyed watching the game.Most of our unit also went for a photo opportunity and were able to meet with the Rampage Girls. We had fun and look forward to doing it again. -- Submitted by Dina Dillon, UC, Guadalupe Valley (TX) Young Marines Marching During Mardi Gras By YM/MSgt Evan Venezia JPSO (LA) This is the time of the year where all of us at JPSO Young Ma- rines have the opportunity to show our hard work and dedica- tion. We spend countless hours of practice, whether it’s marching, Close order drill or team building skills and sometimes we don’t truly understand or appreciate it... until times like this. We march as a team wearing our uniforms with pride. We lead the parades carrying our National Colors with respect. There are voices in the crowds thanking us and cheering us on. Our hearts smile as we do what we love. JPSO Young Marines:Marching with pride, doing what we love. Colors at the Home Opener On the evening of Friday, April 15, the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office Young Marines program was invited by the New Orleans Zeph- yrs to be one of nine color guards from the New Orleans metropolitan area to pres- ent the colors at the Zephyrs’ home opener baseball game against the Omaha Storm Chasers at Zephyr Field in Metairie, LA. PPSO Young Marines partic- ipating in the event included YM/PFC Gregory Henry, YM/PFC Isaac Henry, YM/PFC Norman Phillips III, YM/PFC Alicia Voisin, YM/PVT Meryl Wilson, and YM/PFC Serayah Phillips. After their performance, the guests made their way to the Homerun Porch to watch the baseball game and enjoy ham- burgers, hotdogs, chips and soda. --Submitted by Eric J. Benel, Public Information Officer, Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office (LA) Young Marines A New YM/PFC Writes to Esprit ... By YM/PFC Andrew Sutton Billings (MT) I have been a Private in the Young Marines for almost a year.The program has taught me about leadership, discipline, and team- work. On the first Tuesday last April, I had my promotion board. I was nervous about answering questions, but soon I realized that I had nothing to fear. I might have been afraid, but it was just anticipation. I passed my promotion board, and was glad that I did.The week after my promotion board, I was promoted to my current rank of PFC. I am working hard to be the best I can be in my unit so my fellow Young Marines and I can benefit the most. My goal is to rank up, and help others around me to succeed as well. Ionia County Young Marines: Paying it Forward in Flint, MI The Ionia County (MI)Young Marines had an opportunity to volunteer and lend a helping hand to some of the resi- dents of Flint, MI. Our unit has been assisting people with the recent problems that have come up in Flint with lead contamination in its water supply. On the last Saturday of March 2016, the Young Marines and Staff of ICYM were on the ground in Flint handing out cases of bottled water to residents in their neighborhoods. This was one of the unit’s more rewarding community service opportunities, in that they were able to be part of something much bigger than themselves. As a unit the Young Marines gathered a total of 88 cases of water to distribute, in addition to many more from a local church there. As a Registered Adult and their Executive Officer, I could not have been more proud of how they represented themselves, the unit and the Young Marines as an organization. -- Submitted by Rick Beukema, Executive Officer, Ionia County (MI) Young Marines ESPRIT ONLINE | Page 5