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ReconnectingwithOneoftheFirstYoungMarinesByAliceReedUnitCommanderOPSOLATheOPSOYoungMarineswerere-centlyvisitedbyoneoftheveryrstYoungMarinesamannamedSamuelK.Beamon.AsweallknowtheYoungMarinesprogramwasestablishedin1959inWaterburyCT.Afternish-ingintheYoungMarinesMr.BeamonenlistedintheMarineCorpsinApril1965onadelayed-entryprogram.HewentonactivedutyinAugust1965andcompleted19monthsinVietnamservingasahelicoptercrewchief.AfterbeinghonorablydischargedfromthemilitaryserviceheworkedatPrattandWhitneyaircraftforayear.HethenjoinedthepolicedepartmentinWater-buryCTandrosethroughtherankstotheleveloflieutenant.Forthelast12yearshehasbeeninchargeofthejuveniledivision.Heretiredafter28yearsofservice.HestilllivesinWaterburywherehewasbornandraisedandwherehejoinedtheveryrstYoungMarinesunit.Mr.Beamonacceptsat-shirtfromOPSO.ByYMPFCFranchescaReyesBuckleyFieldCOThissummerIlearnedhowimportantitistoconserveournaturalresourcesandprotectourwildlife.IearnedtheSenatorJ.H.ChaffeeConservationRib-bonwithmyunitafterspendingtimeatthePlainsConservationCenterandIalsodidotheractivitieselsewherethathelpedmebetterunderstandconserva-tion.Itwasfunbuildingabirdfeeder--IspreadpeanutbutterandbirdseedallovermineandthebirdsreallyloveditInmyrockgardenIwasabletocol-lecttworocksonebasaltandoneve-sicularbasaltthatcamefrom14000-feetunderground.Watchingmyseedsgrowwasalsocool.IwasabletosharemyexperienceatRieFallsStateParkinmyessay.Butthemostexcitingex-periencewasteachingchildrenatmychurchssummerlunchprogramaboutconservation.Ishowedthemmycon-servationbinderrockgardenandleavesandhadthemplantpeasinpa-percups.Oneofthelittleboyswassoexcitedwhenhetoldmelaterthathispeahadgrownintoaplantandhehadreplanteditoutside.Itmademehappythatheandtheotherkidswerestilldo-ingtheproject.IfeelthatImmakingadifferenceinmycommunityastohowpeoplearelookingatnaturalresourcesandwild-life.Mymessagetothestudentsistoprotectplantsanimalsandourplanet.MyfamilyandIrecentlywentcamp-ingandbecauseoftheconservationunitIlookeddeeperatmysurround-ingsandatwildlifeinRockyMountainNationalPark.MyfamilyandIarenowmoreawareofhowouractionsaffectourenviron-ment.Wearetryinghardertodoourparttoreducereuseandrecycletoprotectourbeautifulplanet.EarningHerConservationRibbonandSharingHerKnowledgeByYMSgtMajBethAbzunSouthlandCAOnvariousoccasionsIhavecomeacrossliteraturethatnarratesoneofthemostintriguingstoriesofalltimethehistoryofourgreatnation.Ioftenponderonthegreatamountoftimethatwasinvestedintoformingthispower-fulnationandthededicationthatde-velopedourConstitutionwhichwouldgoverntheentirenationforyearstocome.Ihadtoacknowledgethatwhileallbeginningsareroughtheyhavetheabilitytoproduceapleasantoutcome.DuringtheearlymonthsofthisyearIreceivedareplyfromMr.OkeefeEx-celsiorHighDesertYoungMarinesEx-ecutiveOfcerinwhichheconrmedtheformationofanewYoungMarinesunitinVictorvilleCA.Heextendedaninvitationtometoattendoneoftheunitsdrills.AfterconsultingmyunitcommanderIwasabletoaccepttheinvitation.Thesummerbroughtachal-lengetothenewunitforitsstaffhadtostartfromzero.HoweverdespitetheobstaclesthatcamefromtimetotimeandwithGodshelptheadultstaffwereabletowitnesstherstgraduat-ingclassoftheExcelsiorHighDesertYoungMarinesinJuly.ExcitementwaspresentinboththeYoungMarinesandtheirrelatives.Al-thoughtheunitadultstaffexpressedtheirexhaustiontheyrejoicedinknowingthattheirrstrecruitclasshadmadeatransitiontothetitleofYoungMarines.EditorsnoteYMSgtMajAbzunwastheDivision6YoungMarineoftheYearfor2011-2012.VictorvilleBringingaNewUnittoLifeBethAbzunatlecternholdstheattentionofanewunitsnewestgrads.26ESPRITFall2013