A Day of Community Service

 

0700 the day began… All of the Young Marines and parents met at the Rancho Community Church. With all of the Young Marines accounted for and Camelbacks on, we loaded the vehicles. Away we went 11 vehicles caravanned out to the City of Anza for their 4 th of July celebration parade. Once we arrived Sgt. Major Vaughn showed the unit where to park and handed us his 40 X 25 foot retirement flag , , , , , , . The Young Marines were given the honor to march in the parade down the center of Anza with this distinguished flag. Young Marine Gunnery Sergeant Guiles pulled duty securing the Marine Corps LAV and ensuring no one parked near it. With the time drawing near the kids and staff members took their positions and the Color Guard (Cpl’s Fitzpatrick, A. and Hedlund color bearers, Riflemen LCpl. Fitzpatrick, J. and PFC Masters) took their position as the first in line for the Parade , . The Temecula Valley Young Marines had the distinct honor of bearing the colors for the entire parade . Following the Color Guard was our Unit Logistics Officer Mrs. Aguilar and a few of the smaller Young Marines carrying the unit’s banner. The brunt of the unit, along with the CO, XO and Training Officer were holding Sgt. Major Vaughn’s extraordinary and memorable American flag. Continuing in the parade we had six Young Marines accompanied by a staff member on the VFW’s float (the military personnel who volunteered to be on the VFW’s float had failed to present themselves, there was only one Army Soldier occupying the float so the Young Marines took over and stood on the float for the VFW , . to represent the past (veterans), the present (active duty) and the future (Young Marines) of our country!

The Parade began at 1100 with a Marine Corps CH53 flying low and fast over the parade route. At that time the California Highway Patrol pulled out in front of us and escorted us down Anza’s main street. We turned the first corner with the flag folded, when we came out on the main street we unfurled the flag it almost took up the entire width of the street . The Young Marines, staff members and Parent Volunteers pulled the flag tight . The CO was on one end and YM/ GySgt. Guiles was on the other as anchors . As the flag was stretched the crowd was silent then they erupted with a lot of yelling and clapping as the flag passed by . The Young Marines did motivation checks up and down the street , , , . The Young Marines performed very well considering it was approaching 102 degrees. As the unit approached the reviewing stand the Color Guard took their position in front of the judges. The CO had set up the flag with the smaller Young Marines on the reviewing stand side and the taller Young Marines on the opposite side. On the CO’s command the colors were presented and the little end took a knee as the big end lifted the American flag. The crowd erupted with applause, cheers and “thank you’s.” The CO gave the order and the Young Marines stood up as the Color Guard made their way back up to the front. The Young Marines continued on the parade route proudly holding the American flag in their hands. At the end of the parade the Young Marines folded the huge flag properly , . Then the CO asked the LAV crewmen if the unit could look at their LAV. The Young Marines were given a first hand tour of the entire LAV , , . As the LAV tour ended the Young Marines headed down the road in a column of two formation at route step back to the vehicles. Along the way they sang cadence and the spectators who were still camped along the parade route continued to clap and cheer for the Young Marines. After a quick accountability formation the Young Marines were shuttled down to the Sgt. Majors’ restaurant the Cahuilla Creek Café where they were treated to a fantastic BBQ lunch , , , . The Young Marines sat in the cool shade and drank lemonade and ate lunch until it was time to go.

Before we stepped off the CO and GySgt. Guiles helped block traffic for the LAV so it could park in front of the café. With the LAV parked we did another accountability formation and away we went to Vail Lake for another community service event. At the Vail Lake event the Young Marines provided security and parking assistance, , , . The Young Marines also provided a Color Guard for Mr. Mark Macaro who is on the council for the Pechanga Band of Indians and for his daughter who sang our National Anthem , , ,, ,.

The Young Marines were also waiting for Senator Hollingsworth who was planning on attending the event but was unfortunately called away to Sacramento. Never the less, the Young Marines worked until 1900 with the Secret Service. The Secret Service personnel were so impressed with the Young Marines professionalism and discipline, that they asked to call on the unit again to help support the Secret Service when they work on another small event. Of course the Young Marines said, “Yes!”

It was a long day and a lot of Community Service hours were added up on June 30th , but Wow! What a day. It was a good day to be a Young Marine and show how far and how much we can do in a day . Ooh-rah !! Young Marines .