So much, in so little time .... Our Young Marines participate in many aspects of our community such as parades, ceremonies and veteran appreciation events. In the past year, 2009, we; provided Color Guards for school and community functions in the cities of Red Oak, Waxahachie, and Italy. Marched in the Red Oak Founders Day Parade, along with participating in the Texas State Fair Evening Colors Ceremony, the City of Desoto's American Veteran Traveling Wall Remembrance, and the City of Waxahachie-Tree initiative Dedication and Veteran's Day tribute held at the Waxahachie Civic Center. On July 3rd, our YMs participated in the Waxahachie 4th of July parade, with a Color Guard directly behind the vehicle of Chief David Hudgins-Waxahachie Fire Department. With banners for three distinct groups and honored guests of veterans; WWII, Korea and Vietnam. They also mingled with the vets as they worked "usher" duty. Note: one of the attending WWII Vets is none other than R.V. Birgin, a US Marine whose role has been documented and portrayed in the HBO series "The Pacific". Melissa Shows truly volunteered [she really did!] to help as Assistant Paymaster [APM] and assumed duties of Paymaster in August of 2010. Ms. Audrey Brown and Ms. Joan Pipkins, have come aboard. Mike Shows and Teresa Culclager also answering the challenge call to the unit ... Mike Shows graciously, ok not so gracious but without hesitation, accepted position as Training Officer on JAN2011.
FY 2009
On May 2nd, 2010, (4) YMs graduate an accredited Junior Leadership School; YMCPL Allister Dominguez Jr., YMCPL Dillon Lavender-noteworthy "Most Improved Award", YMLCPL Nathan Dominguez and YMLCPL James Berg-noteworthy "Motivation Award"! Congrats to our JLS grads, they represented themselves, their parents and the unit extremely well! Ooh Rah! ... it's a YM thang, if we have to explain, you wouldn't understand.
So far in 2010, our YMs participated in the American Veteran Traveling Wall Tribute on Veteran's Week for the City of Ennis-May; four very long and fruitful days for our YMs, multiple a color guards, parade and assisting visitors and dignitaries throughout the exhibit. The governing board were impressed with our YMs so much, they requested the same in Mesquite, TX on Memorial Day weekend but we graciously declined to enjoy some R&R.
ECYMs have two unit encampments under their belt, with a multi-unit encampment invitation to Kansas in AUG2010, one scheduled for NOV2010, and a division encampment in 2011 in Arkansas!
Dan Cook, Post Commander, American Legion Chism-Landers Post 361, in Ennis, TX, and his staff presented ECYM with a full-sized trailer for unit use, custody and care. The trailer was presented on 24JUL10 at our 4th Saturday drill. Look for it once we have the Legion's decal and Unit name applied.
Texas National Guard Troop Appreciation on September 11th was an event to remember. Not only did we provide a Color Guard at the request of the host unit, our unit participated in the parade as well. Then the YMs enjoyed fun and games for a few hours in the afternoon, while experiencing some military static displays and riding in a troop transport. To show their gratitude, the YMs provided site clean-up.
FY 2011
October 1, 2010, Young Marine Of the Year and Volunteer Of the Year selected [to be presented at our 1st Inaugural Young Marine Birthday Ball on October 30th] with unit individual volunteer hours ranging up to 575 hours, and unit volunteer hours totaling almost 3,000! That's community involvement with commitment!
Beginning to collect goodies for our troops and donations for the annual Toys for Tots campaign, as well as contributions for Wreaths Across America so we can send the troops a little bit of home, provide families in need a means to celebrate Christmas and show our appreciation to veterans in national cemeteries with holiday decor on markers!
We unexpectedly provided Colors at the National Night Out event hosted by the Waxahachie Police Department on October 9th.
Our inaugural Birthday Ball was excellent; YMPFC Maupin was named Honor Graduate of Recruit Platoon 3-10, YM Nathan Dominguez promoted to YMCPL. YMPVT Yelina Rodriguez earned Unit High PFT, YMLCPL Culclager awarded Unit Motiviation Award to name a few. Mrs. Miller named Volunteer of the Year. Last but not least, YMCPL Berg named unit Young Marine of the Year. A good time was had by all.
We received notification in the wee hours of the morning on November 4th, YMCPL Berg was named Battalion's Junior Young Marine of the Year award and Ellis County was named Battalion's Unit of the Year. Both are in contention for the respective awards at the Regiment level.
We participated in the Original Ft. Worth Mudrun on November 6th, 2010 [sun up to sun down; 21 YMs, 7 adult leaders and 2 YM parents] at La Grave Field as course marshals and crew ... Young Marines being the only charitable cause of the event. Ms. Brown and Mrs. Culclager manned our Belks Charity booth on the same day.
On Veterans Day week, YMs raised morning colors at the Walgreens Regional Distribution Center ceremony, helped VFW Post 3894 serve veterans and their families, and ushered guests and helped packing up on the Ellis County Veterans Day Appreciation Ceremony at the Waxahachie Civic Center.
ECYM contiued efforts to collect Goodies for the Troops and toys for the North Ellis County Outreach Program through the holidays.
April 9th, three new Young Marines graduate Recruit Training, Kaden Julian, Cedric Moore with Brandon Moore earning Honor Recruit and receiving a meritorious promotion to YM Private First Class. Four other YMs are promoted to YMPFC; Renay Moreno, Alexa Rodriguez, Yelina Rodriguez, and David Shows.
May was a good month. YMLCPL Culclager graduated Junior Leadership School-XO devices a plan to have him promote meeting grade requirements. A day at the range, practicing marksmanship and using dicipline to get and stay on target with two of the Corps' finest helping coach ... adult leaders got in on the fun too! ECYM participated in the Ennis Polka Festival Parade with Operation Support Our Troops to raise money toward a veteran monument for the Veteran Park being erected. ECYM YMs also escorted WWII Veterans throughout the day as the Honored Veterans of the day in Ennis. Mrs. Moore stands-out, literally, as she helps peddle our water and sports drinks sale for a little chi-ching to the general fund-with MO and SSGT Jed Shook, 3/5, making bulk purchases for the sale.
June turns out to be a good month too. ECYM particiaptes in the Flag Day Ceremonies with our friends at the Americal Legion Chism-Landers Post 361 on Ennis, TX. Our second "drill" of the month will be spent pool side, earning water qualification ribbons and working on advanced water qual ribbon devices.
Independance Day Parade Kicks-off July, with August's Recruiting drive for Recruit Platoon 2011 and ROHS Football Fridays!
In September, Mrs. Shook prepares Ellis County Young Marines to host the 52nd Young Marine Birthday Ball for 4th Battalion, 1st Texas Young Marines Regiment! Tickets sales for 150 attendees.
ECYM closes FY2011 with; 3,000 community service hours, CPL Culclager selected as Young Marine of the Year, LCPL Brandon Moore as Junior Young Marine Of the Year and Mrs. Melissa Shows as
Adult Leader of the Year! ECYM teams up with RO ISD PD for Goodies for the Troops drive, benfit Ellis County native, SGT William Johnson, US Army, and the 1-227 Aviation Regiment deployed in Afghanistan.
FY2012
FY2012 starts of with a Battalion-wide Young Marines Birthday celebration on October 7th, in our own backyard put on by the feverishly hard work of Mrs. Shook! Big D, Ellis County and Lone Star YMs celebrate together, and each unit announces their end-of-year awards.
Red Ribbon Week 23OCT11-29OCT11; ECYM reaches and motivites almost 400 county students within two school districts to join them in US Marine and DEA Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena's vision of a Drug-Free America in small groups of thirty and a large group of three-hundred! Outstanding Young Marines! Well done!
Goodies for the Troops drive goes on as we prepare to send care packages for Christmas Day holiday, leading us into the Veterans Day Ceremonies of Waxahachie. ECYM will carry Service Colors to the Wreath Ceremony, which upon completion kick-off weekend events throughout the community. Pleasant Manor Senior Care also asks ECYM to join them honor their resident Veterans.
In December, four YMs and two Adult Leaders particiapte in the US Young Marines Wreath Ceremony on December 6 at the USS Arizona Memorial for Pearl Habor Week in Honolulu, Hawaii. Two of our YMs were selected to carry the Grand Marshall Banner in the Inaugural Pearl Harbor Commemorative Parade, as one carried our guidon loud & proud among 23 other unit guidons, and our last YM held his own in a mass formation of nearly 300 YMs from around the country.
Also in December, YM Family Miller decorates Hall 5 at the Pleasant Manor Senior Care on behalf of ECYM ... thank you Millers!
We have and continue to work closely with the City of Red Oak ISD's Police Department as a resource for the community, the ISD, parents and the citizens of Red Oak, TX and surrounding communities by developing discipline, nurturing leadership and mentoring teamwork.
Our adult staff
Our unit's birthday was on February 14th of 2009, with Daniel Messersmith as its Unit Commander-Commanding Officer [CO] and Jaime Barrera as its Executive Officer [XO] after issuance of its charter. Thomas Guarnero, Training Officer [TO], came along on the first Training Day 1-coincidence?. Shelley Miller, Adjutant [Admin/"ADJ"], was "snapped up". Fernando Fonseca, VFF and Trainer, was "promoted" and Celeste Fonseca, "selected" [drafted] as Paymaster [PM]. Kelley Shook, Medical Officer [MO] also "kidnapped" doubling as our Female Staff Adviser [FSA]. Joe Green, has recently enlisted his child and found himself "drafted" as Supply Officer [SO], and doubles as our Encampment Officer.
Tom Guarnero assumed the position of Unit Commander/Commanding Officer on May 3rd, 2010, endorsed by Division on May 7th. Mike Miller was appointed as Executive Officer. Annual elections held on June 12th, honored the May Change of Command for both CO and XO positions.
Congratulations to Alfred Dominguez, matured-YM, as he is the first unit Young Marine to maverick onto the staff as an Adult Leader in June of 2010!
Lori Green, finally gets all her paperwork to become a full-fledged VRA in June of 2011 ... might as well as she's helped in more events than not and stayed busy in the background.
SGT Lori Guarnero, RO ISD PD, becomes the unit's Law Enforcement and Activity Medical Officer. Michelle Rhody turns in her "contract" for a VRA!
With these additions, our staff will change around a bit to cross-train some of the best VRAs Adult Leaders into other roles as we grow stronger and firmer than ever before!