Young Marine is Youngest Person to Receive National Award from Burn Institute On May 9, 2018, at the Paradise Point Resort in San Diego,CA,YM/MSgt Sophia M. Righthouse, 14, became the youngest recipient of the National Burn Institute’s Spirit of Courage Award at their annual awards banquet. YM/MSgt Righthouse received the award for, “Exceptional Courage and Efforts to Save the Life of a Fellow Human Being and For Valor and Commitment to Become Involved in a Rescue at the Risk of Peril and Pain.” The award stemmed from YM/MSgt Righthouse’s life- saving efforts while evacuating residents of a condominium building during a fire on November 4, 2017 [Editors’ Note: A com- plete account of this incident appeared in Esprit, Volume 1, 2018] While at the event, San Diego Fire De- partment Interim Chief Kevin Ester spoke to YM/MSgt Righthouse about the pos- sibility of a summer internship with the Fire Department. Timothy O’Malley, Ph.D, Vice President of University Relations at the University of San Diego requested she contact him for an informational tour of the University’s ROTC programs. - Submitted by Bret A. Righthouse, Unit Com- mander, Miramar (CA) Young Marines YM/MSgt Sophia Righthouse By YM/MSgt Sophia M. Righthouse Miramar (CA) The Miramar Young Marines were invited to conduct a Color Guard ceremony and to raise the Colors during the inaugural Mira Mesa Veterans Memorial Day event at the new Mira Mesa Veterans Memorial on May 28, 2018. The dignitaries in attendance were Brian Mainschein, Cali- fornia State Assemblymember for the 77th District, San Diego City Councilmember Chris Cate (for the 6th District), and San Diego Police Chief David Nesliet. During the ceremony, a Vietnam era Marine vet- eran, Sgt Roy Zanni, played Taps on his bugle. Ser- geant Zanni is part of Bugles Across Amer- ica, a service- oriented group that travels our great nation playing live Taps at the funerals of service members and dur- ing memorial events. Sgt Zanni explained the importance of honoring our veterans by playing a live version of Taps. I was sur- prised to learn that most memorial services use a recording of Taps. Sgt Zanni has played Taps in as many as 11 funerals in one day. I was extremely honored to meet Sgt Zanni. If any- one desires a live version of Taps for a service mem- ber's funeral or for a memo- rial event, you can contact www.buglesacrossamerica.org. This service is provided free of charge. Memorial Day at the Mira Mesa Veterans Memorial We met a veteran dedicated to playing live Taps at services and events The San Diego (CA) Young Marines were invited to present colors at San Ysidro Middle School 2018 Graduation. Left to right: YM/ Cpl Hernandez, YM/PFC Mendoza, YM/Cpl Marquez and YM/PFC Marquez. --Submitted by Melissa Aguirre, San Diego (CA) Young Marines Presenting the Colors at Graduation Sgt Roy Zanni and YM/MSgt Sophia Righthouse Sgt Roy Zanni with the Miramar Young Marines Color Guard. 30 Young Marines Esprit ONLINE