Holy Moly! So much to say and such little time! This Unit sure has been keeping busy. A parade in Tolleson, AZ for Whoopee Daze, Color Guard for opening Ceremonies for the Arizona Diamond Backs, attended a baseball game, NCO Staff campout. The list goes on! And with more things coming up, it promises to be another busy summer.
For those who have actually kept up with the web site (more than me), I am announcing that I will remain with the Desert Young Marines as the Commanding Officer until elections that will be held in August. After that, who knows. It will depend on the elections I guess.
This month has had some ups & downs and some decision time for me. With our three Senior Young Marines graduating high school, they will also be leaving the Young Marine program. One of them has suggested that he will remain as a staff member until such time he goes to boot camp for the United States Marine Corps (Ooh Rah!) I hope he does as it would be a great benefit for the Unit. (*NOTE* At the bottom of this page is a slideshow video starring our three Young Marines who aren't so young any more, check it out!)
Along with the three Young Marines leaving, I am losing some staff members as well. I was supposed to be one of them but I just can't leave yet. Things aren't in order for me to do so yet and I can't leave the kids like that. These kids are wonderful and have brought me much joy. This program is a fantastic program and I believe in it. And if this Unit fails, I'm afraid that these kids will have no where else to turn. For this reason I cannot leave them. It is my prayer that the answer will come soon.
On a lighter note, a former Young Marine and AFC with the United States Air Force has recently joined us. He will remain with us until he is deployed to Iraq in October. It is great to have someone that has gone through the program and has seen the benefits/rewards and can pass on his experiences with the program to a younger generation.
As you can see, the web site is taking on a new look. Please let me know your comments, ideas and suggestions. I will continiue to work on it somemore to make it more informative. Bear with me.
Thanks for hanging in there with me. Talk with ya soon.
And remember, Life may not be the party we asked for but as long as we're here, we may as well dance!
