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ESPRITSummer201325YOUNGMARINESHONORINGTHROUGHOUTTHEYEARHVETERANSHByRomaineWallerUnitCommanderEnoRiverNCThisMemorialDayweekendaswedidthepastfewyearsourunitwenttoWashingtonDCtoparticipateintheparade.Ourrsttouringdestina-tiononthewaytherewastheNationalMuseumoftheMarineCorpsinQuan-ticoVA.Aftertakingaself-guidedtourthereweventuredbackoutsidetogetabetterlookatanantiqueairbrushedChevytruckthatwehadadmiredonthewayin.ThistruckisadedicationtofallenMarineLCPLPhillipVinnedge.Imethismotherthereandsheelo-quentlyspokeofhersonandhowthisrollingmemorialcameintoexistence.Itwasanhonortomeether.OurdaycontinuedwithaguidedghosttourofOldTowneAlexandria.TohearthehistoryofAlexandriacou-pledwithghoststoriesandthelooksonsomeofmyYoungMarinesfaceswaspriceless.SundaymorningweheadedtonearbyMountVernon.MyadjutantReneeNicholsonhadarrangedforustoraisetheagthere--thiswasasecretthatonlysheandIknewaboutbefore-hand.AfterwearrivedandourYoungMarinesdidthehonorswetouredourrstpresidentsexpansivemansionandplantation.WelookedintotheroomsstilldecoratedastheywereduringGeorgeWashingtonslifetimeandvis-itedthegardensfarmandslaveburialground.ThenatWashingtonstombIoverheardthedocentsaythattherewouldbeawreathlayingceremonyinapproximatelyanhour.Asthetimedrewnearforthewreathlayingceremonyweallgatherednearthetombsothatwecouldgetagoodlookattheceremony.Wellthedocentaskedformilitaryveteranstopartici-pateandIquicklyvolunteeredandsodidtwooftheEnoRiverYoungMa-rinesstaffExecutiveOfcerJimmyRi-leyandSupportStaffTimGrap.HowIwishedmyparentshadbeenalivetowitnessthis.YouseeImanAf-ricanAmericanfemaleandthegrand-daughterofasharecropper.Thoughmymothergraduatedhighschoolmyfatherdidnotyettheyprovidedformeandsentmetocollege.IamanArmyDesertStormveteran.NowhereIwashavingjustwalkedthegroundsofaplantationandvisitedthegravesitesofslavesandnowIstoodontheshoul-dersofthosethatcamebeforemelay-ingawreathatthetombofthenationsrstpresident.ContinuedAHumblingMomentattheTombofGeorgeWashingtonByYMCplLaurenLoriaColonelWesleyFoxVAWehadonlybeenbackfromourre-cruitbootcampforafewhoursbeforeIdressedinmycharliesandheadedforRFKStadiuminWashingtonDChomeoftheDCUnitedsoccerteam.WemetupwiththeQuanticoYoungMarinesandwereescortedtoourroominthestadiumtodepositourgearbe-forewalkingouttothelushgreeneldunderthebrightsun.YMMsGySgtBurtonandYM1stSgtLorialaidoutourplanofexecution.Thecolorguardwouldbeontheleftandthehonorguardontheright.Afterashortprac-ticeweheadedbacktoourroomtoenjoylunchandchilluntilitwastimetoperform.Theannouncercalledtheplayerstotheeldandthenitwastimeforourtribute.WeusuallyjustdoacolorguardbutsinceitwasArmedForcesDayitseemedonlyttingthatwealsoin-cludeanHonorGuardfeaturingeachoftheveserviceags.WemarchedoutpresentedarmswhileaNavyof-cersangtheNationalAnthem.Ithinkweallfeltasenseofprideforwearingouruniformsandshowingtheservicememberfansthatwerememberalltheydo.AswewalkedoffalotofpeopleyelledoutcomplimentsandSemperFi.AswewalkedbacktotheroomtostorethegearIcouldnthelpbutsmile.HavingourfriendsfromQuan-ticomadethedayevenmorespecial.Wetookourseatstowatchthegamewhichendedwitha1-1tie.ItwasagreatdaytobeaYoungMarineShowingtheColorsataDCUnitedGame12Spring2013ESPRITByPatrickMcMahonUnitCommanderThreeRiversCTTheThreeRiversYoungMarinesmarchedintheNorwichCTMemo-rialDayParade.ThecommandantfromourlocalThamesRiverDetach-mentoftheMarineCorpsLeaguemarchedwithus.AttheendoftheparadetherewasaceremonyandwreathlayingatMemorialParkinNorwich.YMSgtMajConnorMcMahoninoneofhisnalactsasaYoungMarinewasaskedtolayoneofthesevenwreaths.HonoringtheFallenonMemorialDay