The Miramar Young Marines Honor SDPD First Responders

The Miramar Young Marines, wanting to show their admiration and respect for our community’s first responders, partnered with Operation Gratitude on a mission to personally thank all the patrol division police officers and civilian staff of the San Diego Police Department (SDPD); some 1200 individuals assigned to eleven separate divisions spread throughout the City of San Diego.

Miramar Young Marines had recently conducted a Color Guard for the volunteers of an Operation Gratitude event where care packages for Marines graduating from boot camp from Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego were being assembled. While at this event, the Young Marines of the Miramar Unit became intrigued with the idea of partnering with Operation Gratitude. They wanted to deliver care packages to our local law enforcement officers to honor their outstanding courage and dedication to protecting our communities.

The Miramar Young Marines spoke with Operation Gratitude and were put in contact with Krystal Navarro, the coordinator for the First Responder Program. She enthusiastically honored our unit’s request and within days had two pellets containing 1200 Operation Gratitude care packages delivered to the Miramar Young Marines! The unit members tackled the task of boxing the care packages into individual lots to be delivered to the eleven patrol and field divisions of the San Diego Police Department.

On September 18, 2022, members of the Miramar Young Marines initiated the tactical portion of our mission, delivering individual care package lots to the divisions of first responders across our city. With the instrumental assistance of SDPD Lieutenant Dan Sayasane who volunteered to be our liaison, the Young Marines loaded the boxes of care packages into multiple vehicles and set out across our city. The Young Marines traveled over 110 miles delivering the care packages to the brave officers and essential employees assigned to Central Division, Eastern Division, Mid-City Division, Neighborhood Policing Division, Northeastern Division, Northern Division, Northwestern Division, Southeastern Division, Southern Division, Traffic Division, and Western Division. The Miramar Young Marines, partnered with Operation Gratitude, were honored, and privileged to have the opportunity to thank those that heroically risk everything, every day to make our communities safe for all.

Operation Gratitude, founded in 2003, is a national nonprofit providing care packages to honor the service of the nation’s Military and First Responders. Operation Gratitude embraces the spirit of volunteerism, providing opportunities for Americans to express their gratitude through hands-on volunteerism, in turn lifting the spirits of those who raise their hands to serve.

https://www.operationgratitude.com/

About the Young Marines

The Young Marines of the Marine Corps League is a national non-profit 501c (3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through the completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork, and self-discipline, so its members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

For more information, visit the website at https://www.YoungMarines.org