By YM/Cpl Jonathan Thornhill Imagine School at North Port (FL) On Saturday May 5th, Cpl Kalen Dixon, Cpl Jordan Algarin, LCpl Cis- sy Jones and I, from the North Port unit, presented a Color Guard at the Little Miss North Port Softball League closing ceremony. It wasn’t a normal Color guard at all. We were meet with a huge bump in the road. We had been preparing for the Color Guard for about a week. The four of us had practiced for the Color Guard a few times. We had gotten every- thing down to make it look good, but we were told that there was a change of plans. Originally, we had planned to march from home plate up to the pitcher’s mound and then present the colors, do a counter march and march back. At last sec- ond we were told to march from the first base dugout to the pitcher’s mound. In abouts 5 min- utes, we had to figure out how we were going to do so. We figured everything out right before we started. I was happy that we managed to get it done right. Right after the color guard my unit also was having a Drill Squad demo. Our Drill squad spins rifles. We have a routine that we know how to do but we still have some work. I am a part of the Drill Squad also and I was a part of the demonstration. After the Color Guard I had to quickly take off my ribbons and duty belt, get my rifle and get into the formation. We marched out onto the field and performed. This was only our sec- ond demo we have done so it didn’t look perfect but we were proud of the job we did. This Saturday was a great experience for everyone that went. CPL Kalen Dixon and I had re- ceived our Color Guard Ribbon for completing our fifth Color Guard, and everyone on Drill Squad all learned what we needed to work on to make our demo better next time. Our Color Guard Learned to Adjust to a Change in Plans Fund Raising Idea: Birdhouse Sales Benefit Our Unit, and Nature By YM/Pvt Connor McElyea Swansboro (NC) I am with the Swansboro (NC)Young Marines unit. I am writing to share my idea for how other units could raise funds. Usually in the back of our Esprit magazines we see advertisements for how to sell processed meats to fund- raise. This fundraiser says it has a 45% profit that goes to the Young Marine unit that is selling. This to me a low percentage. Other fundraisers also have lower profit percentages. I am writing to suggest that Young Marine units can make and sell birdhouses to fundraise. This is not only more profitable because you can get almost 92% profit but it also helps other Young Marines learn why earning their Conservation Ribbon is important. Every year my family helps raise money for my grandparents to go on a mission trip. Last year since my brother and I were working to earn our Conservation Ribbons we ended up mak- ing birdhouses with leftover wooden fence pieces.This is when we learned that our state is considered a bird sanctuary. So we decided after our ribbon project to make more birdhouses to sell to raise money for our grandparents’ trip. This was a good idea because selling birdhouses gave the birds in our area a safe place to live and make nests and stay safe from predators. This also was a good idea because selling birdhouses gave other people the ability to see the birds in our area which helps people enjoy nature and want to preserve it. My grandparents are not going on a mission trip this year, so my brother and I decided it was a good idea to make and sell our birdhouses to raise money for our unit instead, so per- haps we can all go on a big trip or some- thing fun. My mom talked with one of our local lumber businesses who agreed to give us materials to build for half off two times a month.She got another local busi- ness agreed to let us sell our birdhouses outside their store once a month during summer. Because we get our materials for half off each we can make each birdhouse for only $0.32. We sell our birdhouses around $5 each which is a good price be- cause in the stores they cost about $7 or $10. This means we have a lower cost and a higher profit, which is 92% or more depending on what we sell. My mom posts our birdhouses on Facebook to sell as well, so we also have people ask my brother and me to design and make special things likes bat boxes and duck houses or bird condos which is like three birdhouses all in one. All of these things help with the environment by helping to conserve wild- life by giving them homes. Making birdhouses is not as easy as just ordering chocolate or beef jerky and selling it but this is a good fundraiser for Young Marines because it can encourage members to chal- lenge themselves, to use their imaginations and be creative, and get them concerned about the environment and what they can do to protect local wildlife. So this is why I think my idea is good for both the Young Marines and conservation. 32 • Vol.2 • 2017 • YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE EDITION