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ProudtoBelongtoaBunchofToughEggsByYMLCplAlexanderMaxwellOrlandoDevilDogsFLWeallknowthatVeteransDaycommemoratesthetimeswhensoldiersputtheirlifeonthelinetomakesureAmericaiskeptsafethoughnotmanypeopleunderstandthetruemean-ingofVeteransDay.ThisyeartheOrlandoDevilDogsYoungMarineswasrecog-nizedforparticipatingintheVeteransDayParade.AfterwardsagroupofretiredmilitarymenandwomenwhoworkwiththeSeaCadetstheU.S.CoastGuardsprimaryyouth-servingvolunteerprogramalsopresentedbothmeandYMPFCGala-gherwithagiftcardforWal-Mart.Ididmybesttobemodestaboutreceivingthegift.TheOrlandoDevilDogshasalsobeenselectedUnitoftheYearbythenationalofceoftheYoungMarines.Wehavecompleted48hoursayearofDrugDemandReductionDDRwhichhelpsmotivateyoungchildrentomaintainandliveahealthydrug-freelife.IthasbeensaidthatourunitisatougheggtocrackListeningtoTheirStoriesWhileTheyAreStillWithUsByYMCplLukeSmithCampPendletonCAOnMemorialDayCampPendletonYoungMarinesjoinedtheSolanaBeachVFWNo.5431inhonoringandremember-ingourveterans.WeprovidedacolorguardandthenlistenedtoboththemayorandguestspeakerDavidJacintowhotoldusabouthistoricaleventsthatthemembersoftheVFWbranchparticipatedin.Itwashardtowatchtheveteransastheyre-memberedtheirfallencomradeswithtears.Iespeciallyenjoyedspeakingwiththeveteransafterwardsandhearingtheirstoriesofbattle.Ithinkitisvaluabletolistenandrememberandre-tellthestoriesbecauseitwontbelongbeforeallofthemwiththeirrst-handaccountswillbegone.IappreciatethetimethatIwasabletospendwiththemthatmorningandIwontforgetthesacricesthatweremadeformeandmycountry.AWorldWarIIStyleEncampmentandaGuestWhoWasReallyThereShenandoahValleyVAThisAugustShenandoahValleyYoungMarinesparticipatedinCampBoondocksanencampmentthatthisyearbroughtustogetherwithtwoothernearbyunitsinNorthernVirginiaManassasandBattleeldYoungMarines.ThecampwassetupasaWorldWarII-stylereenactmentcompletewithperiodtruckstentsandgear.CampBoondockslastedvedaysandalthoughtheyhadrainshowersonthreeofthosedaysthatdidntstopthemfromhavingagreattimeandengaginginsomegreattraining.TheyalsohadtheprivilegeoflearningfromanumberofspecialguestsincludingMr.BeverlySayardsaveteranoftheD-DayinvasioninWorldWarII.CaptainNeilConnerUSMCretwasveryactiveintheentireencampmentleadingeldstud-ieswiththeYoungMarinesandcoordinatingthereenactmentexperiencethattheysharedwithveterans.SuchinteractionswithveteransarepricelessexperiencesforourYoungMarines.RaisingarealbigtentatCampBoondocks.D-DayveteranMr.BeverlySayardsspeakstoShenandoahValleyYoungMarines.LivinglikeaWorldWarIIsoldieratCampBoondocks.YOUNGMARINESHONORINGVETERANSTHROUGHOUTTHEYEAR24ESPRITFall2013