UNIT MYYM By YM/LCpl Shane Patterson Natchaug River (CT) Most people aren’t aware of what it RE- ALLY means to be a part of the Young Ma- rines. Young Marines isn’t all about fun and games,its about making a difference in your community. Helping people out, making the world a better place. It also changes you for the better. I used to be a follower that used to be in trouble almost everyday. Now I’m a straight-A stu- dent, a leader, and I get in trouble a lot less. The Young Marines definitely changed me for the better. Its also about being part of a team. In the Young Marines, you have to work together to achieve a common goal. This program will help out your future a lot. It also looks good on college applications. And, whatever happens, the Young Marines are your second family. What Being in Young Marines Means To Me YM/MSgt Tyson Henry of the East Valley (AZ) Young Marines proudly wears the red cord on his wrist and is more than willing to share the importance of the anti-drug messages taught to him by the Young Marines. Outside of the Young Marines Program, Tyson is the starting center fielder for the Mountain View Toros Junior Varsity baseball team. Recently, Tyson’s values were challenged by his baseball coach leaving him in a difficult position of hav- ing to make some tough choices. During a baseball game, as Tyson entered the batter’s box, he was asked by the um- pire to remove his red cord. Tyson did so without argument. Upon returning to the dugout he was informed by his coach that he would not be finishing out the game and that he would be missing the next game as well. He was benched for wearing the red cord. Tyson, who is dedicated to the Young Marines and passionate about the Red Cord Campaign, sat the bench without argument and cheered his teammates on to a win. After the game, he approached his coach to try to explain, but his coach did not want to hear what he had to say, no jewelry was the rule and the red cord was considered to be jewelry. Upon returning to the locker room,YM/ MSgt retrieved a new red cord along with the Young Marines “Closing the Gate on Drugs” brochure and approached his coach once more. He respectfully re- quested a brief meeting to explain what the Young Marines Program was all about and why it was so important to him. At the conclusion of the meeting, Ty- son’s coach requested that Tyson bring red cords for his entire team, as they were all going to wear them and no one would be removing them. Tyson did so, and even provided one to the umpire at the next game. In the days that followed, his coach as- sisted YM/MSgt Henry with arranging a meeting with the school Athletic Direc- tor in an effort to explain the Red Cord Campaign to propose that all athletes in the school participate in the campaign. As a result, YM/MSgt Henry along with his coach and the athletic director are in the process of planning a school-wide assembly for early next Fall to bring not only the athletes but the entire student body on board with the campaign. Al- though YM/MSgt Henry was willing to take a seat for what he believed in, the Young Marines Program provided him the confidence and skills needed to ad- vocate for what he knew was right. As a result, more than 4,000 students at Mountain View High School will learn about the Young Marines and the Red Cord Campaign this Fall. -- Submitted by Dawn Henry, East Valley (AZ) Young Marines East Valley Young Marine: Willing to Sit to Take a Stand The Mountain View Toros Junior Varsity Baseball Team, standing in support of a healthy drug free lifestyle. 4 YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT