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STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK MORRISVILLE, N.Y. -- The annual
American Legion Boy's State of New York gathers around 1,200
promising young men each year at the State University of New
York, Morrisville, to learn about the basics of American
governance and civic responsibility.
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Cpl. Richard Marko III, a
recruiter at Recruiting Substation Utica, poses for a picture during
the annual New York American Legion Boy's State at the State
University of New York, Morrisville, June 28, 2013. Marko, a native of
Newport, NY is a
2008 Boy's State alum. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Timothy T.
Parish)
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Each year, Marines from across New York (all members of the 1st
Marine Corps District) volunteer their time to assist in promoting
the common values of honor, courage and commitment, through lessons
in basic drill and ceremony, physical fitness, and teamwork.
The weeklong event brings together incoming seniors from each county
in New York State, with the goal of solidifying participant's
understanding of the building blocks of American society, with a
focus on the electoral process, civil service, and physical fitness.
Corporal Richard Marko III, a recruiter at Recruiting Substation
Utica, Recruiting Station Albany, was a Boy's State participant in
2008 between his junior and senior years of high school. His
experience as a Boy's State alum caused him to reconsider his future
heading into his senior year at West Canada Valley High School in
Newport, N.Y.
“I was sent [to Boy's State] through a panel of
American Legion members who asked different questions about service
and country, as well as being in the top percentage of my grade,”
Marko said.
Marko was slated to attend college with an ROTC
Scholarship after graduating high school in 2009.
After a week at Boy's State learning what the Marine Corps does
and how it operates, Marko decided to enlist in the Corps as a
reserve aviation administration specialist forgoing his collegiate
pursuits and a commissioning in the Army.
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“Before the weeklong adventure at Boy's State in 2008 I had
no idea what a Marine was or what they were like,” he said.
“Having a weeklong experience with the Marines set a
standard for me that the Army couldn't match.”
His experience as a Boy's State citizen formed how he viewed
his role as a Marine supporting Boy's State. Marko focused
on mentoring, encouraging and providing a positive role
model for his group of boys and said he hopes his group had
a positive impact on their futures after high school.
“It was a huge honor to go back [to Boy's State] as a
Marine. Going [as a boy] in 2008, I knew nothing about
Marines except seeing them at my school,” said Marko. “To
have the chance to influence the lives of these young men
was a huge honor for me.”
Capt. Jordan Then, the
Reserve Support Officer for RS Buffalo, has taken part in
Boy's State for two years as the officer-in-charge, and
believes the values of Boy's State and the Marine Corps are
naturally aligned.
“The Legion gets a group of
dedicated Marines who assist in the organization and
movement of the boys as well as providing expert instruction
in physical fitness,” said Then, a native of Buffalo.
“Additionally, the boys get a group of excellent role models
who demonstrate the Marine Corps' core values of honor,
courage and commitment, as well as provide them with
valuable insight into the Marine Corps and the military as a
whole.”
According to Marko, some boys come in not
knowing what the Marines are as an organization, only that
they are professionals and “modern day Spartans.” Boy's
State, he said, allows them to see the difference in the
military services.
“I had countless boys telling me
they want to be Marines because of this week, through NROTC
or the Naval Academy or through enlistment,” said Marko.
“Without me telling them or suggesting it, by the end of the
week, they were calling Marines the best.”
More photos available below
By USMC Sgt. Timothy T. Parish
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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