Young Marines Join Vietnam War Commemorative Partner Program

The Young Marines, a national youth organization, is a member of The United States of America Vietnam War Commemorative Partner Program, designed to assist a grateful nation in thanking and honoring Vietnam veterans and their families for their service, valor, and sacrifice.

At noon on Saturday, March 2, a formal signing acknowledgement ceremony took place in Fredericksburg, Virginia, to ensure all volunteers, parents, and other family members of Young Marines are recognized and to ensure all members in unit communities are recognized over the next two years. At the signing event, several members of the Board of Directors of the Young Marines were recognized.

National Vietnam War Veterans Day is observed every year on March 29. It recognizes U.S. Armed Forces personnel with active duty service between November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, regardless of location of service.

“As the son of a Vietnam veteran, it gives me great personal and professional pride that our organization will strive to ensure every Vietnam veteran is recognized wherever Young Marines are found,” said Col William P Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. “Our youth members will be seeking focused interaction with our Vietnam veterans, many of whom are the volunteers and grandparents of our Young Marines.”

As a Commemorative Partner, the Young Marines pledges:

• to thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War, including personnel who were held as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States and to thank and honor the families of these veterans;
• to highlight the service of the Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and the contributions of Federal agencies and governmental and non-governmental organizations that served with, or in support of, the Armed Forces;
• to pay tribute to the contributions made on the home front by the people of the United States during the Vietnam War;
• to highlight the advances in technology, science, and medicine related to military research conducted during the Vietnam War; and
• to recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by the allies of the United States during the Vietnam War.

“The Vietnam War Commemoration Program is a federal initiation, put into law in 2008,” said Retired Maj. Gen. Arnold Fields. “But it wasn’t until 2012 that a major ceremony took place at the Vietnam Wall in Washington D.C. lead by President Barack Obama. Since then, the program has substantially grown. Returning veterans have always been honored by a grateful nation, except Vietnam veterans. We’re going to make up for this.

“There is considerable urgency to recognize these veterans, because many are up in years. In addition, we will recognize the families of those who have already passed on.”

About the Young Marines

The Young Marines 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.

Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to 264 units with 8,500 youth and 2,500 adult volunteers in 39 states, the District of Columbia, Japan and affiliates in a host of other countries.

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