Bossier City Celebrates Graduating Class of Young Marines
Every once in a while, a special event happens that warms the heart and fills you with hope for the future. This week in Bossier City, we witnessed just that as nine enthusiastic boys and girls officially graduated from the Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines program. This vibrant ceremony took place at the Viking Drive Substation, wrapping up a lively two-week period of **indoctrination training**.
Honoring Young Achievers
Under the watchful eye of Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington, the Young Marines program aims to impart crucial leadership skills, discipline, teamwork, and confidence to our youth. Sheriff Whittington expressed his excitement during the ceremony, stating, “I am thrilled to see these young folks make a commitment to the Young Marines program. The skills and discipline they learn here will help them develop into the future leaders of tomorrow.”
He went on to highlight some core values of the program, emphasizing that it encourages a **healthy, drug-free lifestyle** while teaching the Marine Corps principles of **honor, courage, and commitment**. Great values for any teenager to live by, don’t you think?
A Day for Recognizing Stars
Among the graduates, the honor graduate was recognized as Frank Williams, Jr., who certainly made his mark throughout the training. Additionally, the Physical Fitness Award was presented to Quinn Eason for his exceptional dedication to fitness-related challenges.
Adding a touch of motivation, Retired Marine and Pastor Lee Jeter from the Marine Corps League Detachment #875 took the stage to present the coveted Floyd L. Baxter Leadership Award to Lexa Kunath. His inspiring commencement speech was met with applause, leaving many attendees feeling invigorated and full of spirit.
Meet the Graduates
So, who are these nine shining stars of Bossier City? The graduates of Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines Class 38 are:
- Eric Eason
- Quinn Eason
- Riley Harris
- Nicholas Houston
- Hakeem Johnson
- Lexa Kunath
- Waylon Richmond
- Jamie Smith
- Frank Williams, Jr.
As a culminating highlight of the ceremony, a **Color Guard presentation** was delivered by former Young Marines: London Brown, Alaina Rivera, Benjamin Forker, and Luis Gonzalez. The presence of these young alumni brought a sense of camaraderie and continuing bonds among all those involved.
About the Program
The Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines program is part of a larger, national initiative that was founded in 1958 and serves as the official youth program of the United States Marine Corps. Since its establishment in Bossier, over 1,200 young men and women have proudly completed the Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines program since its inception in 2002. That’s a lot of future leaders!
Commanded by Deputy Lex Webb and with the assistance of Deputy Marie Modica, the program continues to thrive under the support of Sheriff Whittington and his team. If you’re interested in learning more or getting involved, don’t hesitate to reach out at (318) 965-3500 or drop by the Viking Drive Substation at 2510 Viking Drive in Bossier City.
As we celebrate the hard work and dedication of these young graduates, it’s clear that the future is bright for them. They’ve laid a fantastic foundation for their community, and most importantly, for themselves. Here’s to Class 38, and may they go forth with courage and confidence!
