• From our National Executive Director Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/usyoungmarines and our national homepage www.youngmarines.com As I reflect on the past year, one word comes to mind: service. 2017 was a year that saw Young Marines and adult volunteers across the country step up like never before to support our peers, our veterans, and our communities. The pages of this edition of Esprit are filled with stories of your selfless sacrifices to make our coun- try a better place. Hurricanes, fires, and flooding have ravaged our country this year, yet Young Marines did not hesitate to help. Whether they were units in Texas helping with blood and donation drives, units in Connecticut fundraising for hurricane recovery, or any number of individual Young Marines who took it upon themselves to help the best they could, our program worked hand-in-hand with first responders and non-profit organizations across the country to support recovery operations. Through it all, many units reached out to help their fellow Young Ma- rines in the impacted area, offering supplies, shelter, and clothes as they were able. To all of you who took up this mantle, I could not be more humbled your selflessness—you are shining examples of what it means to be a Young Marine. Even with our efforts to respond to and support disaster recovery on a scale that our country hasn’t seen in many years, our support to veterans and their legacy carried on stronger than ever. Reports of events overwhelmed our email and social media operations on a daily basis as Young Marines inspired, recognized, and served those who have served our country. Countless wreaths were funded and placed, thou- sands of hours were spent engaging and helping veterans, and the Young Marines’ colors have flown proudly alongside our National Ensign at hundreds of parades and color guards across the nation. We continued to honor our veterans at Iwo Jima, Win- dow Rock, Washington DC, and Pearl Harbor, and in each case, the veterans that we honored knew that our support and gratitude was unconditional. This year was an amazing year for our Drug Demand Reduction mission. While we celebrate Miami Valley Young Marines for winning the DoD’s Fulcrum Shield Award, we are also excited to have a 300% increase in the number of submissions for the award. In addition, over 90% of our Young Marines units completed Red Ribbon Week events, including thousands of people who ran in our first ever DDR Dash. We will never fully know how many lives have been or will be changed by our Drug Demand Reduction efforts, but at a time when our country struggles with an ever-growing drug crisis, we will continue to be a beacon of education and positive influence to keep ourselves and others healthy and drug free. Continuing our dedication to supporting our lo- cal communities, Young Marines across the nation continued to support their local communities in ways as numerous and unique as our program. Whether donating time and money to the Toys for Tots program so every child can get a toy for Christmas; supporting other youth organizations and events; or cleaning up our nation’s waterways, highways, or beaches, our program continued to show the country a lesson that we’ve already taken to heart—when we work together, we can accom- plish anything. As we enter the new year, know that I salute all of you who have helped contribute to this past year of remarkable selfless service. I enter 2018 confident that when and where there is a need, Young Marines will serve. Our adult volunteers, Young Marines, and families represent the best of the American ideal. Thank you for all that you do, and I look forward to joining you at events this year around the country. As always, stay safe, stay motivated, and keep liv- ing that healthy, drug-free life. Semper Fi, Col Bill Davis, USMC (Ret) National Executive Director, Young Marines When We Work Together, We Can Accomplish Anything 2 YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE Col and Mrs. Davis at the top of the crater with the Young Marines at MCBH Kaneohe Bay.