Young Marine Honoring Pearl Harbor Victims

Sixty-eight Young Marines from different parts of the country are in Hawaii this week to remember the victims of the attack on Pearl Harbor more than seven decades ago.

Among the Young Marines is 16-year-old Sgt. Kamerun LaBrier who will represent Westchester County while traveling with the White Plains-based Southern New England Regiment. The local regiment is joining 11 other youth marine regiments from nine states for a series of events to remember those lost, while participating in a 50th anniversary of the dedication of the USS Arizona memorial site.

“Undoubtedly, the Young Marines will meet some of the survivors of that historic event of 71 years ago,” said Michael Kessler, national executive director of the Young Marines. “Those veterans are, in every sense of the words—living history, and each has a story to tell. It is an honor to attend an event that commemorates a significant turning point in our nation’s history.”

On Thursday the group is scheduled to perform a wreath laying at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. The Young Marines will then lead the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Honolulu on Friday. The regiments will carry banners of the 12 ships lost during the attack. After that the group will pay tribute survivors, active military members and veterans.

Established in 1959, the Young Marines is a non-profit youth education and outreach program.