S.D. YOUNG MARINES GROUP RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF TOP NATIONAL UNITS

MIRAMAR

A local chapter of the Young Marines group was picked as one of the six top units among 235 units across the country. The Miramar unit of the Young Marines was named the Unit of the Year for Division 6, which includes six states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California and Arizona.

The group is part of the national Young Marines, a leadership and service program for youths ages 8 through high school. The program focuses on character building, leadership and a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The nonprofit group encourages discipline and good citizenship and fosters the moral, physical and mental development of its members.

The unit shows its patriotism and honor for veterans by participating in color guards and honor guards throughout San Diego County at community events ranging from city functions to Padres games and Little League games. The unit participates in memorial services for military members and conducts f lagfolding ceremonies for deceased service members.

The unit recently received the Distinguished Unit Citation for its efforts to reduce drug use by area youths through community education and role modeling. The award honors special agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena from the Drug Enforcement Agency, who lost his life keeping drugs off the streets.

The unit’s Young Marine Master Gunnery Sgt. Sophia Righthouse was awarded the Distinguished Service Ribbon for her exemplary service in the unit, which she joined in 2013. Righthouse recently created a Young Marines Online Training Course, which helped more than 1,000 of her peers across the country get training during the pandemic.

The Miramar unit, with 49 members and five adult volunteers, meets at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and is led by unit commander Bret Righthouse.

“I believe Miramar Young Marines earned this award because the youth members and the unit staff have courage, commitment and honor,” Righthouse said. “We strive to improve the unit on a daily basis by thinking outside the box in order to improve ourselves, the unit, and the Young Marines program as a whole.”

For more information, call (858) 945-3649 or email: Ym_miramar@yahoo.com.

linda.mcintosh @sduniontribune.com