Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
HYoungMarinesHonoringVETERANSThroughouttheYearHFoothillsCOFoothillsYoungMarinesmarchedintheCommerceCityCOMemorialDayPa-rade.Itwasaperfectmorningforaparade.TheYoungMarinesnotonlymarchedintheparadebuttheyperformedtheYoungMarineObligationforthecrowdandjudges.Everyonelovedit.TheywereloudandproudImpressingCommerceCity26Summer2013ESPRITIcannotdescribetheoverwhelm-ingfeelingofGodsblessingsthaten-compassedmeasIwentthroughthewreathlayingceremony.ImsuretheslavesthatservedatMountVernonwouldhaveneverimaginedadaylikethis.AdaywhenablackwomanwouldbeeducatedandbecomeanArmyveteranadaywhenablackwomancouldfreelymoveaboutany-whereintheworldandwouldchoosetolayawreathatthetomboftheirownmaster.FormeithadbeenadaywhenIfelteversohumbledandgratefulforthesacricesourancestorsandfellowAmericanshadmadesothatIcouldhavetheopportunitiesIvehad.Free-domisntfreeandmanyhavepaidtheultimatepricesothatwecanhaveexperiencesliketheoneIwasabletohavethatMemorialDayatMountVer-non.ByYMPFCDaolaiChanthiratMecklenburgCountyNCOnMemorialDayweekendourunitwenttoWashingtonDCtopartici-pateintheMemorialParadedownConstitutionAvenuealongwithothersur-roundingunitsfromacrossthestates.Therewereatotalofatleast300YoungMarinesparticipatingintheparadeonMemorialDay.OurunitalsovisitedtheNationalMuseumoftheMarineCorpsaswellastheVietnamandLin-colnmemorials.WewerealltouchedbyvisitingtheselocationsandlearningaboutthesacricesanddedicationofourfellowAmericanswhichhasmadeusmoreappreciativeofourfreedomthanever.EnjoyingtheMemorialsintheNationsCapitalByYMSgtShannonRappMusicCityTNOurunitwasactivelyinvolvedinNashvillesMemorialDaycer-emoniesattheareastwomainveteranscemeteries.WeassistedattheMiddleTennesseeStateVet-eransCemeterywestofNashvilleinPegram.ThereourSilentDrillTeamperformedtwicealongwiththeYoungMarineswreathhonorpresentation.WealsoattendedceremoniesattheNashvilleNationalCemeterylocat-edinNortheastNashville.AgainourSilentDrillTeamperformedseveraltimesandfourofourYoungMarineswerehonoredtorecitethePledgeofAllegiancefortheaudience.Atbothceremonieswegreetedguestswithprogramhandouts.Theweathercouldnothavebeenmoreperfectfortheweekendsactivities.NashvilleCeremoniesACeremonyinSealBeachByYMPvtMadisonBrooksSoutheastCountyCAOurunitattendedaveteransceremonyatthepierinSealBeachCA.Manyveteransandtheirlovedonescametotheceremonytobehon-oredfortheirservice.AstheceremonywasopenedtheNationalAn-themwassung.FourofourYoungMarinespresentedthecolorguard.Theveteranswerelledwithpride.Asthetimepassedmanyspeechesweregiven.Somewerefunnysomeweresadandheartfeltbuteachonetouchedmeinsomeway.Anemptychairceremonywasalsoheldhonoringthemenandwom-enwholosttheirlivesservingourcountry.Thisceremonywasfollowedbyanalspeechandsomepatrioticmusicandourcolorguardtookdownthecolors.TheveteransweYoungMarinesandthepeoplewhohelpedoutwiththewholeceremonywereallthankedforourpartici-pation.AftertheceremonyclosedtheYoungMarinesposedforapicturewithsomeveteransandasweshooktheirhandsIcouldnthelpbutfeelastrongsenseofprideandrespectforthesebravemen.Iwalkedawaywithagreaterrespectforthesebraveheroesthathavedonesomuchforusandourgreatcountry.AHumblingMomentattheTombofGeorgeWashingtonContinued