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| Young Marines graduate this month Wednesday, February 03, 2010 Carolea Hassard
A host of local recruits will graduate from Parker County Young Marines (PCYM) boot camp on Saturday, Feb. 13. Fifteen kids, all of whom have undergone drill training, history lessons and more, will be inducted into the PCYM Corps in a ceremony starting at 10 a.m. at the old Porcupine Stadium next to the middle school, weather permitting, or at the SISD bus barn.
The recruits include Richard Alvarez, Cody Beasley, Wyatt Berry, Jacob Burns, Mark Flores, Logan Humphrey, Brice Johnson, Jonathan Lewis, Juliette Mendoza, Jacob Nelson, Bryson Ortegon, Coleman Phillips, Austin Richey and Jordan Richey.
All are from the Springtown area with exception to Alvarez and Mendoza, who are from Grand Prairie. They entered boot camp here because training was not currently scheduled in their area. They will enter the Lone Star Young Marines in Dallas after graduation, said PCYM commanding officer Verne Bell. Boot camp involves plenty of physical drills and lots of classroom instruction including history of the Young Marines as well as the Marine Corps, discipline, leadership and even drug training including identification of and how to say no to drugs. Helping train the young recruits are current members of PCYM, including Abigail Bailey, Tristyn Boone, Cpl. James Naron, Paul Radecki, Sgt. Clay Tidwell, Hannah Tidwell and Justin Wilke.
Boot camp is held the second and fourth Saturday of each month at the SISD bus barn. Bell said the next boot camp will begin in June or July and new recruits are welcome. Meanwhile, members will continue with regular training and plan soon to stay on the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi. In May, the Young Marines will help at the Cowtown Warbird Roundup at Meacham Field, where WWII aircraft and modern jets will be on display during an open house. Once the weather warms up, the Young Marines plan to go on a campout, Bell added. Other PCYM activities include acting as color guard for parades during Wild West, Mayfest and Christmas on the Square. For information call Bell at 817-599-9580. |
