By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Youths of the County Patriot Young Marines (CPYM) recently volunteered their time assisting members of the Presque Isle VFW in honoring the region’s veterans by adorning their final resting places with American flags; the four youths exuded respectful appreciation as they systematically found and honored the soldier’s graves on the drizzling morning of May 21, and their CPYM adult leadership couldn’t have been more proud of their Young Marines.

Contributed photo
From left, Sarah Nouhan, 10, of Connor; Tierann Barbosa, 9, of Caribou and Kyle Kilcollins, 13, of Westfield watch as Alex Kaiser, 11, of Ashland places a flag near the headstone of a veteran. The group assisted the Presque Isle VFW on Saturday in honoring veterans’ graves for Memorial Day.
The Young Marines program aims to build character and leadership qualities in participants while promoting a healthy, drug-free lifestyle — but respecting the service veteran men and women have done for the country is also learned along the way.
Resultantly, no one needed to tell these pre-teens the reason behind Memorial Day — their answers spoke for themselves.
“We put the flags on the graves to remember the people who served our country,” said young marine Pfc. Kyle Kilcollins. “It’s important that we all remember who served our country and fought for us.”
Recruit Tierann Barbosa of Caribou is a newer member of the group, but he learned long ago the importance of Memorial Day.
“For the veretans who have died and who have fought in the wars, we’re respecting them for serving our country,” he said.

Contributed photo
County Patriot Young Marines assisted the Presque Isle VFW in making certain that all soldiers were honored this Memorial Day.
Under the supervision of Unit Commander Diane and Executive Officer Rich Norton, the four youths — Barbosa, Kilcollins, Pfc. Alex Kaiser and recruit Sarah Nouhan — helped lay over 100 flags at the Fairmount Cemetery in Presque Isle. Shortly after, the group helped with a little fundraising by selling buddy poppies for the VFW.
The next Memorial Day endeavor that has the group excited is marching in the Memorial Day Parade in Presque Isle on May 30.
Additional information regarding the County Patriot Young Marines can be obtained by visiting www.youngmarines.com. The group is currently accepting new members; for more information please email Diane at Dianegnus@yahoo.com or call 325-3424.