Lt Alexander Bonnyman Unit News Archive 2008
In November 2008, YM Sgt. Aaron Wade was selected as one of two Patriot’s Pen winners from the Seymour, TN Middle School in the “Voice of Democracy” essay contest. His essay was titled “Why America’s Veterans Should be Honored.”
What a way to celebrate your 18th birthday! YM Cpl Benjamin Deremer was carrying on a family tradition when he ran in the 33rd Annual Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC last October 26th – it just happens that was his 18th birthday. Ben wanted to run in the Marine Corps Marathon because his father, Dan Deremer, ran that same marathon 30 years ago while he was in the Marine Corps. Ben finished his marathon in four hours, 54 minutes, and 37 seconds. His dad doesn’t remember - or isn’t telling - what his time was 30 years ago. Ben will also be following his father into the Marine Corps later this year. After he graduates from Seymour High School this May, Ben is scheduled to report to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC in early June. In the meantime, YM Cpl Deremer will be one of the YM Instructors working with the YM 2009 Recruit Class.
On 22 November 2008 the Young Marines celebrated the 233rd anniversary of the birthday of the Marine Corps with a traditional ceremony, dinner and social gathering. Our guest of honor was Marine Major Brian Griffing.
You can now support the Young Marines while you are shopping on-line. Go to the Young Marine Shopping Mall and you will find about 600 retail stores represented - the same stores you normally shop at. The only difference is that if you buy through this website, a portion of the profit goes to the National Young Marines Program. You don’t have to be a member of the Young Marines or associated in any way with the program - it is open to everyone. If you like the site, tell all your friends about it - the Young Marines can use all the support they can get. 
During the drill on 6 September 2008, personnel from the Blount County Fire Department taught the Young Marines first aid. At the final formation of the drill, the following individuals were promoted:
Pvt to PFC
Murphy, Caleb
LCpl to Cpl
Frazier, Nathan
Smith, McKenzy
Smith, Micah
Wells, Andrew
Cpl to Sgt
Morrow, Jamaica
SSgt to GySgt
Hedge, Nick
Lawson, Patrick
McNutt, Robert
MSgt to MGySgt
Reimann, Derek
In addition, Unit Commander Young announced that Young Marine Nicholas Hedge had been selected as the Unit Young Marine of the Year. In making the announcement, Commander Young said that YM Hedge had done an outstanding job as the Unit 1st Sgt. since he was placed in that position in February 2008, showing great dependability and resourcefulness in that unit leadership position. He is now eligible to wear the Unit Young Marine of the Year ribbon.
In addition to other activities during drill on 23 August 2008, YM LCpl Brandon Magee spoke to the other Young Marines about how to tie various kinds of knots. YM LCpl Matthew Smith also spoke to them about various drugs. He spoke about cocaine and how it started being used medically as an anesthetic and then about inhalants and how they affect various bodily functions before leading to damage to major body organs.
YM LCpl Magee demonstrating various knots & YM LCpl Smith speaking about drugs
During the final formation, five privates were promoted to PFC: Jameel A. Lane, Joseph G. Murphy, Jarred W. Pekala, Adam M. Spriggs, and Michael D. Walker. In addition, YM Matthew C. Smith was promoted to Cpl and YM Weldon R. Humphries III was promoted to Sgt. YMSgt Humphries had his new chevrons pinned on by his two namesakes – his father, Weldon R. Humphries II, and his grandfather, Weldon R. Humphries, a Marine Corps veteran and one of our unit’s Adult Leaders.
YM Weldon R. Humphries, III receiving chevron for promotion to Sergeant
from his grandfather, Weldon R. Humphries
On 6 September 2008, our unit will be participating in the National Child Identification Program co-sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the American Football Coaches Association to help identify missing children. According to statistics provided by the program, over 800,000 children are missing every year – that’s one every 40 seconds! That total includes 450,000 children who run away, 300,000 children who are abducted by family members, and 50,000 children who are abducted by non-family members.
The National Child Identification Program has developed a kit to help parents take and maintain fingerprints and other identifying information about their children so that in the event their child is missing, the parents will have identification information readily available at home to provide to law enforcement personnel. The kit includes a fingerprint card and instructions for the parents about how to take their child’s fingerprints using the inkless solution contained in the kit.
At the regular drill on 6 September 2008, each Young Marine in our unit will be given one of the kits to take home so that parents can take their fingerprints to maintain in their homes. Anyone needing additional kits should visit the National Child Identification Program website.
Eight Young Marines from the Lt. Alexander Bonnyman Unit will be attending a nationally sponsored Junior Leadership School over two weekends in late August. From Friday evening until Sunday evening over the weekends of 8/22-24/08 and 8/29-31/08, Young Marines Cpl Kreis Evans, Cpl Kayla Hedge, Cpl Jonathan Hicks, Cpl Aaron Wade, Cpl Brandon Macklin, LCpl Nathan Frazier, LCpl McKenzy Smith, and LCpl Micah Smith will participate in the Junior Leadership School being held in Atlanta, GA. Young Marines GySgt Benjamin Brott and SSgt Patrick Lawson, who successfully completed Advanced Leadership School in California earlier this summer, will serve as Young Marine Staff helping to run the School. We wish them all good luck at the school.
The National Headquarters of the Young Marines is excited to announce our own travel site. By arranging your travel through Young Marines Travel, you can help to support the Young Marines. You will enjoy prices in line with the popular internet sites you are familiar with now, while also benefiting the Young Marines with your purchase. Through the site you will be able to arrange for airfare, rental cars, hotels and more. Visit Young Marines Travel when planning your next trip.
Young Marine Corporal (Cpl) Jamaica Morrow attended Junior Leadership School (JLS) at Camp Pendleton, CA and through her performance was selected for several honors. She was selected as the Honor Graduate of her platoon, one of four platoons at the school, and as the overall Honor Graduate of the JLS Class.
Young Marine Corporal Morrow with Young Marine
National Executive Director Michael Kessler
On Saturday, 19 July 2008, 58 Young Marines and Adult Leaders from the Lt. Alexander Bonnyman Unit went to the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard (ANG) Base for a briefing on the operations of the Air National Guard’s 134th Air Re-Fueling Wing. Several of the Young Marines have parents who work on the base so it was a great opportunity for them and the other Young Marines to hear and see how the members of the ANG remain ready and able to help protect our nation.
Young Marines at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base
ANG Lt. Jaime Oakley, the Wing Public Affairs Officer, guided the Young Marines on a tour of the base, explaining the operation of some of the other units located on the base, before taking them to a hanger where one of the Wing’s massive KC135 aircraft was located. Lt. Oakley explained that the KC135 is the Air National Guard’s primary air-refueling aircraft and is capable of air re-fueling almost every one of the US military’s aircraft. The Young Marines were split into three groups and members of the aircraft maintenance crew then spent about an hour and a half showing the Young Marines through the plane and explaining its functions. The Young Marines got to sit in the cockpit seats, lie in the re-fueling boom operator’s position, and hear all about how the aircraft is maintained in operational readiness. At the conclusion of the briefing, the Young Marines went to the base dining hall, which Lt. Oakley proclaimed is the best dining facility in the Air National Guard, for a delicious lunch. It was a great educational experience for everyone.
Young Marines in KC135 aircraft