The Potomac River Young Marines of Washington, D.C., has been named the Division 2 Unit of the Year, the top honor for units in a five-state area. Division 2 encompasses the jurisdictions: District of Columbia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia.
The unit will now compete with five other units from across the country for the Young Marines units’ top honor, National Unit of the Year. The units will be awarded on Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Woodbridge, Va., during the Young Marines: A legacy of Excellence Awards Banquet.
The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age 8 through high school graduation. The organization promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members and focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork, and self-discipline, so its members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
Unit Commander Tiarra Carey leads the Potomac River Young Marines, which meets at The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Ave. NE, Washington, D.C.
“To think of all the hard work these Young Marines have done, the journey we have taken and overcome together in our first year, and to see it all recognized in this way…it just brings tears to my eyes.” said Unit Commander Carey. “I’m proud of the team we have built and I’m proud of our Young Marines!”
The Unit was chartered in October 2022. Since then, the unit has distinguished itself into one of the most respected and productive in the country. The unit has been providing countless hours of community service as well as performing in Color Guard presentations throughout Division 2, one of the most demanding in terms of unit level requests, in supporting community partners and always staying ready to serve. Serving alongside such organizations as DC Mayor’s Office of Veteran Affairs, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 341, City of Dumfries, Saluting Our Veterans, St. Jude’ s, Iwo Jima Association of America, American Legion, Elk Lodge of Loudoun County, Warriors Salute, national holiday parades, Wreathes Across America, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Wards 7 and 8 Drug Prevention Centers, and numerous other organizations and churches.
Recipients of numerous awards, the Potomac River Young Marines are especially proud of:
- Distinguished Unit Citation
- Two (2) Young Marines Unit Commendations
The most prestigious award won to date, however, is the 2023 Department of Defense (DoD) Fulcrum Shield Award. The award is given annually by the DoD and recognizes military-affiliated youth organizations around the world that have made intensive efforts at spreading anti-drug messages in local communities.
“One of the main reasons [Potomac River] received [Division 2] Unit of the Year was recapturing the Fulcrum Shield Award,” said George Biedenbender, Division 2 Commanding Officer.
“Being a relatively new unit, we are extremely proud of the Potomac River Young Marines for their remarkable efforts in educating the Washington, D.C. community on the dangers of drugs,” said Col. William P. Davis USMC (Ret), National Executive Director and CEO of the Young Marines.
The Potomac River Young Marines have amassed hundreds of hours of drug demand reduction (DDR) training and service in their local community. The Young Marines’ anti- drug message has been spread across the Washington, D.C. area.
Young Marines History
Since the Young Marines’ humble beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 238 units with 6,400 youth and 2,750 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia, Japan (Okinawa), and affiliates in a host of other countries.
For more information, visit the website at: https://youngmarines.org/unit/potomacriver/page
