By YM/LCpl Aidan Loya Eagle (CA) I enjoy attending Young Marines each week. I have learned many things since Recruit Training. One thing is to be “Al- ways Ready”, because Young Marines get it done. Then one day, it happened to me. We were performing a community service activity and our Color Guard was in the opening Ceremony at the April Appre- ciation day for Active Duty Children at Camp Pendleton. I have been on several Color Guards as the Rifle Bearer and Young Marine Flag. I noticed our Color Sergeant was not present. The Commanding Officer came and told me our Color Sergeant was not able to attend. He looked at me, it was dead quiet for a few seconds, then in- structed me that I was going to be the Color Sergeant. My throat tightened, and I responded “Yes Sir”. This was my First Color Guard being the Color Sergeant. We arrived and all the other Young Marines helped with putting up tables, chairs, table clothes and the decorations. Our Color Guard practiced. I delivered sharp and distinct commands and our Color Guard started responding like a team.Just then it was time to get started. I was really surprised at the number of people that were present (many in uniform with lots of rank!). I was re- ally nervous, my palms were sweating and I had butterflies in my stomach. But I was the Color Sergeant and my Color Guard Young Marines were looking at me. I could not show my nervousness so I remembered “Always Ready”,Young Ma- rines get it done. I reassured them, and said, “We are here to represent the American Flag, we are ‘Always Ready’, so let’s get it done!” We presented the Colors and a little girl started singing the National Anthem. Ev- eryone started singing. The TV cameras were right in front pointing at our Color Guard. I realized that I was carrying the American Flag. I had a great ap- preciation hon- oring our Ameri- can Flag with the Color Guard. The ceremony was awesome. I am grate- ful to my parents and to the Volunteer adults in our Eagle Unit putting together all the great activities. My advice to all Young Marines is to be “Always Ready”, because Young Marines get it done. Young Marines: Always Be Ready, Because We Get It Done By YM/SSgt Gabriel Myers Westmoreland County (PA) Anyone who is familiar with the sport of Ice Hockey knows that a goal tender’s helmet is a special piece of equipment, and it tells a story about the goal ten- der. It shows everyone watching what is important to that particular goalie. I designed my helmet by combining two parts of my life-The Young Marines and playing ice hockey. Before I could even skate, my nickname has been “Hurricane Gabe.”Young Marines is such an important part of my life that I had the Young Marines emblem painted on the back plate, Young Marines painted on the top-“Young” on one side and “Ma- rines” on the other. I travel with my team, we compete throughout the United States and Cana- da, so a lot of people have seen (and will see) my helmet.When people see my hel- met,they ask me about it,and I am always proud to tell them about how great the Young Marines program is, what it’s all about, how much is has done for me and how much it means to me. I always encourage others to join the program. Even if people do not ask me about my helmet, they still see it and hopefully will seek information about the program. The core values that I learned and use in the Young Marines, I carry over to all parts of my life. On my ice hockey team, I use my Leadership skills, Dis- cipline and Teamwork. These values are necessary to succeed at everything in life and they make me a bet- ter person and player. No matter where I am or what I am doing, Young Ma- rines is always on my mind. The Young Marines Are Always On My Mind When I’m Playing Ice Hockey 14 Young Marines Esprit ONLINE