By YM/MSgt Ross Macie LCpl. Caleb John Powers (VA) Division 2 Public Affairs Correspondent Young Marines from all over the country flew into Honolulu, HI for the 76th Anniversary of the December 7, 1941 attacks on Pearl Harbor.This year, 150 Young Marines were in attendance, along with a large number of Registered Adults. Units had fun activities planned throughout the week for their Young Ma- rines to take part in during their time on the island of Oahu. The week started out with all units gather- ing at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay for instructions for the annual beach clean up day. This year we were able to ex- pand our efforts and clean up three beaches. Afterwards, everyone met at the bottom of Sniper Hill for our next activity. There the Young Marines were faced with a choice, they could hike up the hard trail or the harder trail. It was truly inspiring to watch Young Marines choose the harder trail and take on the chal- lenge. Once everyone had reached the top, two Young Marines gave everyone a description of what the base was like during the 1941 attacks. Throughout the week YM/MGySgt Hamper and I had the op- portunity to travel around the island with different units. We were able to capture the moments of Young Marines at Wailua Falls, Diamond Head, Makapuu Lighthouse Trail, the Dole Plan- tation, the USS Arizona, and the Pearl Harbor Memorial site. Along with all of the fun, Young Marines were there for one reason, and that was to honor the veterans of Pearl Harbor. The Young Marines placed a wreath in a ceremony at the Na- tional Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Sgt Major Overstreet, the 12th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, and Sgt Maj Paul McKenna, Sergeant Major of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, were the guest speakers. On December 7th, several units gathered in the early hours of the morning at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, for a ceremony re- membering those lives who were lost during the attack on Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay. Later that night, units came together in down- town Waikiki for the annual Pearl Harbor remembrance parade. Some Young Marines were given the opportunity to march with banners while the remaining Young Marines marched in a platoon. This opportunity is a once in a lifetime experience and the memories that were made will never be forgotten. Young Ma- rines were able to travel to the island of Oahu, visit the USS Arizona, the Dole Plantation, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, march in the an- nual Pearl Harbor remembrance parade as well as several other incredible activities. Thank you to all Young Ma- rines and countless Registered Adults who were in attendance and helped us honor all the vet- erans. Sgt Maj Paul McKenna, Sergeant Major of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, Sgt Major Gene Overstreet, the 12th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (Ret) and Col Bill Davis, USMC (Ret), Young Marines National Executive Director, at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE 21 Pearl Harbor, 2017: Remembering Lives Lost on December 7th, 1941, and Honoring the Survivors