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 46The Upstate Young Marines observed Memorial Day by par- ticipating in a Memorial Day Celebration ceremony titled “Flags of Our Fathers” at the County Square in Greenville, SC. We honored the memory of those who have fallen in combat for our great nation. These brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep this country the land of the free were remembered. The Young Marines played a major role in the ceremony.They wore the uniforms of our fallen ancestors while carrying the different flags our nation proudly upheld and courageously defended from 1775 until the present. The flags that were carried by the Upstate Young Marines throughout the ceremony were the Gadsden Flag, the Grand Union Flag, the Naval Jack Flag, the Coast Guard Flag, the Tripoli Flag from the War of 1812, the 28-Star Flag, the 34-Star Flag, the first Flag of the Confederacy, the 48-Star Flag, and our Nation’s current Ensign. Nineteen Young Marines took part in this ceremony, and oth- ers from the unit were present in support of the event, along with their parents, Registered Adults, and unit staff. They then reenacted the raising of our flag that took place on Mount Suribachi, on Iwo Jima on February 21, 1945. This portion of the ceremony represent- ed that unforgettable event that uplifted the spirits of our Marines in the most costly battle in Marine Corps history. The Upstate Young Marines were honored to participate in this beau- tiful ceremony to honor our fallen heroes. Much preparation and rehearsal led up to this event and our Young Marines received many expressions of gratitude and appreciation from those who worked to organize the event. Many things were learned and re- membered during this ceremony, one being “Freedom is not free. It is repurchased every time one of our selfless and dedicated warriors deploys to do a mission and comes home safely, comes home wounded or gives the ultimate sacrifice.” --Submitted by Kim Gray and Irina Kocsis, Upstate (SC) Young Marines Upstate: Honoring the Nation’s Fallen, and Our Flags 18 YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE