Charlotte Youth Program Recognized As Best In Region

The Young Marines, a national youth organization, has named the Mecklenburg County Young Marines the Division 2 Unit of the Year. The unit meets in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the unit commander is Jon Henderson.

The Young Marines is a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through high school graduation. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and it promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

The Mecklenburg County Young Marines is the top unit in Division 2 which includes Washington D.C. and six states: Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. It is comprised of 23 youth members, and ten adult volunteers guide the unit. The Mecklenburg County Young Marines meets at 737 E. Woodlawn Dr., Charlotte, North Carolina.

“Everyone was very excited and proud when they heard the news,” said Unit Commander Henderson. “Our unit has very dedicated members from five different counties, some who drive an hour or more to attend meetings and events. We have an outstanding group of Young Marines and adult volunteers who strive for the best in themselves and others.”

Inspired by the video challenge of the National Young Marine of the Year, the unit created a Red Ribbon Week awareness video to talk about Special Agent Enrique “KiKi” Camarena. Online literature was used to create lines that the Young Marines memorized and acted out. The individual videos were made outside of unit meetings and then compiled by YMSgt Victoria Gacek who created the overall video. Members aged eight to 15 years old participated in the video.

“We also received 17 proclamations from local and state governments congratulating us on being named Division 2 Unit of the Year,” Henderson said. “Our Young Marines have given 790 community service hours for multiple Marine Corps League (MCL) functions, veteran event assistance, Color Guards, and other events in the community.”

In addition, the Mecklenburg County Young Marines participated in Division 5’s Healthy Drug Free Lifestyle event, two Project Alert certifications were awarded, and YMSgt Gacek was interviewed for the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) “Just Think Twice” program.

“The Mecklenburg County Young Marines has done extraordinary work in Charlotte and are so deserving of this recognition,” said Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. “Its youth members and adult volunteers show great devotion to the community and reverence to veterans. The unit successfully promotes a healthy drug-free lifestyle which is a foundation of the Young Marines program. I offer my sincere congratulations to an outstanding unit."

For more information about the Mecklenburg County Young Marines, call unit commander Jon Henderson at 704-460-3771.

About the Young Marines

The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through high school graduation. 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.

Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 235 units with 5,700 youth and 2,100 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia, Japan, and affiliates in a host of other countries.

For more information, visit the official website at: https://youngmarines.org.