By YM/SgtMaj Anna Saucedo Temecula Valley (CA) As Young Marines, we have done countless numbers of community service events. Oftentimes, these events are for the direct communi- ty around us, but how about try ing something bigger, something that benefits not only your community, but another part of the world? I was recently inspired by the Young Marines to coordinate and host a community service event outside of my unit. At my school, I hold a leadership position in the National Honor Society club, and I decided to do a meal packing event through an organization called Rise Against Hunger. We fundraised just less than $3,000 and in a little more than 2 hours, all 36 of us were able to package 10,152 meals. Each meal consisted of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, and essential vitamins and miner- als.At the event, we were informed that these meals will most likely go to Cambodia or the Philippines. As soon as they are shipped, they will be distributed at schools to children; sometimes, it is the only meal a child will get that day. The event was not easy to put to- gether, but it was more than worth it.To say the least, it was eye open- ing and rewarding. Young Marines, I implore you to use the leadership skills you have acquired through your units to coordinate a communi- ty service event. You, your decisions, and ultimately your actions have the capacity to directly im- pact your community, and if you desire, the world. Community service on a grand scale: YM/Sgt Maj Saucedo assisted at a meal packing event Thinking Beyond Community Service, to Worldwide Service By YM/Sgt Shayne S. Hodson Blackstone Valley (MA) Young Marines On April 7th, the Blackstone Valley, Old Colony, and Boston Young Marines units converged to clean up Minuteman Na- tional Park. The park had sustained heavy damage from this past winter,and needed to be cleaned for Patriots Day weekend (April 13th- 16th). Many events take place there. One of them is the Tuff Ruck Race, and reenactments of the first battles. Minute Man NHP commemorates the first battle of the Ameri- can Revolution. On April 19, 1775, the militias and minutemen of the Massachusetts countryside, in order to persevere their liberty, fought against the British red coats. One of those brave men was Captain John Parker.After a devastating skirmish ear- lier in the morning he and a contingent of the Lexington mili- tia successfully confronted the British regulars along the Bay Road in the afternoon. After extensive archeological work in 2015, the park identi- fied the location of this confrontation, called Parkers Revenge. Volunteers who gave their time on the park day had the oppor- tunity to be a part of the rehabilitation of a nationally signifi- cant site within Minute Man NHP.After the clean up, the Young Marines were invited to a theater to see a show of the battles of Lexington and Concord. The show also displayed maps of the routes that the Minutemen, Militia, and the British had tak- en during these battles. Overall, it was a great experience for all three Young Marine units. We were able to meet new Young Marines, and work with one another and establish friendships. The Young Marines helped by cleaning the trails and reenact- ment fields of leaves, branches, sticks, and trash. Attached is a photo of the Minuteman re-enactors and some members of the Blackstone Valley, Boston and Old Colony Young Marine units. In Massachusetts, Conservation and Community Service Young Marines Esprit ONLINE 25