MY YM UNIT By YM/LCpl Jessica Hargrove Heartland (IL) In April our unit participated in the 12th annual LCpl Kyle Price Memorial Run. LCpl Price died January 13,2006 while conducting combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq.  Prior to becoming a United States Marine, LCpl Price was a member of the Heartland Young Ma- rines unit. This was the first of these memorial runs that I attended, and also the first one I participated in. When I first heard of it, I thought it was some kind of marathon, but it is more like a parade to remember and honor LCpl Price. I was a part of the color guard detail and held the National Ensign. It was really inspiring to see so many people lined up to honor this lost veteran, and that a group of people from a small town gathered together to make sure that every veteran’s life that is lost means something. I can’t image how Kyle’s mother felt when she got to see yet another year where she could remember her son in a way that is not upsetting, but almost joyful because she knows he did a good thing. I plan on participating in next year’s run. I encourage all Young Marines to get involved and participate in your community’s veteran celebrations, remembrances, and honoring ac- tivities. Our Community Gathered to Remember One of Our Own By YM/GySgt Rachel Lopes Pikes Peak (CO) Since I joined Young Ma- rines, I have been working non-stop to earn as many ribbons I could. One of the many ribbons I received years ago was the fire prevention ribbon, which required a lot of study to earn.As part of ob- taining the fire prevention ribbon, my unit provided me and some other Young Marines the opportunity to go to a fire station and speak with the firefighters there, so that they could describe to us the importance of fire prevention and safety. I never would have thought that I would experience a house fire in my lifetime, but because of the work I put into learning about fire safety, I was completely ready for the fire that oc- cured at my home around midnight one frightful night. The fire originated with a simple bar-b-que my family and I had shared. The coals from the charcoal grill were still hot after we had prepared dinner, and the grill eventually tipped over and caught our backyard deck on fire, which eventually caused the propane tank to overheat and released propane from the emergency pressure release valve on top. I watched the fire spout into the air like a giant torch from our emergency escape place, which was our mailbox, as the house began to shoot up into flames. If it weren’t for my 2 hours of expe- rience at the fire station that one day years ago, I would not have been as prepared as I was during this time.A lot of people don’t take fires as seriously as they should and because of this reason, people are unprepared and get seri- ously hurt, or die. It’s not worth dying for to avoid get- ting the fire prevention ribbon, and that is why I am encouraging everyone who still needs it to put forth those few hours to learn about fire safety. It could save more than just one life. Part of the fire safety guidelines I learned while obtaining this ribbon was making a fire escape map. We learned how to draw sketches of our homes and note all the escape routes through the win- dows and doors. The firefighters advised me to post my es- cape route right by my light switch. I also took the time to prac- tice fire drills twice a year with my family, and used the routine we had come up with every time. No matter that you think it can’t pos- sibly happen to you, you should be pre- pared Because of the personal experience I have had, I strongly encourage you to use your time to prepare yourself for a dangerous situation such as this. 4th Division Commanders’ note: Even though less than a week out from the fire, YM/GySgt Lopes assisted with the Div 4 JLS class. The Pikes Peak Unit came together and made sure she had the basic uniforms and hygiene items necessary to be success- ful in her instruction (the Lopes family lost everything in the fire). She learned that sometimes removing yourself form the cha- otic aftermath, and giving in her time at JLS was an important step in recovery. I wish to public commend the Marine Corps League, Military Outreach of the YMCA, and of course the Young Marines in assisting the Lopes family return to some sort of normalcy while their house is razed and another built in its place. Chuck Jackson, Division 4 Commander Fire Prevention, Safety Training: I Was Prepared When Fire Struck The aftermath of a devastating home fire. YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT 5