An East Valley group from Chandler was one of 35 Young Marines units from throughout the U.S. who traveled to Hawaii this past week to participate in the remembrance ceremonies of the 83rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The Young Marines is a national youth organization for boys and girls from age 8 through high school.

The Pearl Harbor trip provided enriching experiences for the youth outside their usual training environments.

The group got some historical education and adventure opportunities on the island of Oahu.

Among the events in which the East Valley Young Marines participated:

• Community service beach clean-up on Marine Corps Base Hawaii Kaneohe Bay.

•Wreath-laying ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as “The Punchbowl,” in memory of the men and women who are interred at the site.

• Klipper Ceremony, Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

•Annual Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade, Dec. 7 in Honolulu, where Young Marine units led the procession. Young Marines performed a color guard and carried the banners of the 12 capital ships that were attacked. They also assisted with many of the floats in the parade.

The East Valley group was the only Young Marine contingent traveling from Arizona. Others were from 16 other states and Washington, D.C.

Young Marines units raised funds at the local level to supplement the costs of traveling to Hawaii.

Since the Young Marines’ beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to more than 200 units, with more than 5,000 youth and 1,950 adult volunteers in 40 states, D.C. and in Okinawa, with affiliates in a several other countries.

For more information, visit YoungMarines.org.

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