The Young Marines of Lancaster County (PA) participate ev- ery year with the Marine Corps League Detachment 294 Toys for Tots program. Many of the unit’s Young Marines travel 45 minutes to an hour to help at the warehouse located in Co- lumbia, PA. There, the Young Marines package the toys, make stocking stuffer bags, put together boxes, and help the adults pick out, carry, and load the toys into the waiting cars to take to their children who otherwise would not have a Christmas. One Young Marine in particular, YM/PFC Ethan Braegelmann, worked more than 40 hours (along with his family) to make sure the Toys for Tots program was a success this year. Good job, Ethan, the unit is proud of you! Lancaster County Young Marines post- ing the colors for Wreaths Across America Event. On a cold December 16, 2017, Young Marines from Lancaster County Pennsylva- nia participated in the Wreaths Across America event at the Oxford Cemetery in Oxford, PA. The following Young Marines provided a color guard and posted the colors at the event: YM/LCpl Con- nor Hamilton, YM/Sgt Daniel Sampson, YM/Cpl Amanda Griffith, and YM/ LCpl James Thompson. The Young Marines were part of the ceremony in which ceremonial wreaths were placed by each branch of the military honoring our fallen heroes.Well done, Lancaster County Young Marines! --Submitted by Diana Six, Adjutant and Executive Officer, Young Marines of Lancaster County (PA) Lancaster County: Reporting a Very Active Holiday Season By YM/Sgt Nathaniel Paredes Quantico (VA) On December 2nd 2017, the Quantico, LCpl Caleb Powers, Col. Wesley Fox, and Manassas Young Marines units all participated in the Quantico Town Parade, togeth- er for the first time. The four units met Geiger Hall on the Quantico Marine Corps Base the morning of the pa- rade. We all introduced ourselves to one another. Adult vol- unteers helped with the practicing for the parade. Mr. Sholtis, the Quantico Training Officer, told us exactly how the parade would go. He demonstrated how to go to Parade Rest while marching in a platoon, so that we could accomplish it during the parade. YM/SSgt Williams and I led drill We had practiced doing column movements and pivoting, which some Young Marines had not known how to do. Soon after Drill, we left Geiger Hall and went to the town of Quantico. We marched to where the parade was going to start, and we waited there. While waiting, a Marine showed us a military vehicle that was in the parade.This vehicle can travel across land,and also go through water. After learning about the it, we marched to our spot in the parade,and waited there until the parade started. We marched down the streets of Quantico, where huge crowds watched the parade.At the middle of the main street, there was a Marine on a stage. When we had come close to the Marine, we did Eyes Left, to show respect. We marched the rest of the way, until the end of the parade.After the parade,we went back to Geiger Hall, and had a Christmas Party. Everyone enjoyed good food, and we sll participated in a White Elephant gift exchange. A good amount of Young Marines were discussing about how we should have a Regimental Encampment. The parade was not only a good opportunity for us, but we also showed many people who the Young Marines are, and what we do for America’s youth. Our Regiment wants us to have more events like this, to show others about the Young Marines, and to have fun. Four YM Units Join to March in Quantico Town Parade By YM/SSgt Daniel Valastro Tarrant County (TX) Some people think of team work as just working together to finish the job but theres a lot more to it than that, it’s about the people next to you that count. Because if they get hurt, I will make sure I bring them out to safety. I have trust in them to get the job done. Sometimes, failure can teach us about success, you have to fail sometimes in order to learn, to bring success. Semper Fi! Learning About Teamwork and Success in the Young Marines MY YM UNIT YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE 13