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ByYMSgtMajDakotaRichterNationalYoungMarineoftheYear2013-14NorthernKentuckyKYAsYoungMarinesoneofourmosthonorablepointsofprideistheworkthatweperformwithandforourAmericanveteransofallconictsandfromallbranches.OnthenationallevelsummertripssuchastheGreatAmericanHistoryAdventurealongtheEastCoastandtheMilitaryOrderoftheWorldWarsinournationscapi-tolandannualceremoniessuchasthePearlHarborparadeinHawaiitheCodeTalkerDayontheNavajoRes-ervationandtheReunionofHonorontheislandsofGuamandIwoJimagrantusinvaluableoppor-tunitiestotrulylearnaboutnotonlyourcountryshistorybuttheheroeswhoshapedit.Throughexperienceslikethesewendthatbybetterunderstandingourveteranswecanbetterappreciateandservethem.Thissenseofserviceandunderstandingismostinuentialandprominentontheunitlev-el.AsYoungMarinesandasyouthwehavetheabilitytoinstillsmall-townAmericavaluesandcompassionintoeverycityandcommunityre-gardlessofitssizethroughtheworkthatweperform.Lookingatmanyofourunitsacrossthecoun-tryandinOkinawaJapanwendthatmanyofthecommunitieswheretheyarebasedwholeheartedlyrelyontheYoungMarinestoorganizeandcontributetoeventsforveteransappreciation.Wehavetheresponsibilityofpositivelyaffect-ingthelivesofthosetowhomweowesomuchthosewhofoughttocreateandmaintaintheUnitedStatesofAmericaweknowandlove.NationalYoungMarineoftheYearCornerLearningAboutHistoryThroughourHeroesYMSgtMajDakotaRichterDRUGDEMANDREDUCTIONLegalizingMarijuanaWhatsReallyGoingOnByJoeLusignanDrugDemandReductionResourceOfcerAsatwenty-somethingyearlawenforcementofcerandonewhosspentalargepartofhiscareerworkingwithkidsImdismayedthatmoreandmorepeoplearedrinkingtheMarijuanaistheanswertoallofourprayersKoolaid.MylocalnewspaperrecentlyprintedanarticleentitledMarijuanaIndustryEagertoPayTaxes.Notsurprisinginanerawhereourlegislaturesattempttobecreativewithfundingsomeareseriouslylookingatlegal-izingmarijuanawithagoaloftaxingit.Thisremindsmeofaninitiativethatwasrunafewyearsagowhereinanattempttomakealcoholmoreavailabletothepublicbusinessesfundedaninitiativetotakethesaleofalcoholoutofthehandsofthestatewhichhadbeenrunningtheliquorstoresandallowthewarehouse-styleandlargegrocerystorestosellit.Theinitiativepromotedexorbitanttaxesonthealcoholandthuswouldhelpalleviatethestateofsomeofitsnancialwoesandevenputmorelawenforcementofcersonthestreet.Ivotedagainstit.AsaSchoolResourceOfcerIknewtherewasalreadyanabundanceofalcoholndingitswayintothehandsofjuveniles.WhymakeiteveneasierforthemAfewyearslaterthestateisstillfullofnancialwoestherewasnoinuxofofcersonthestreetandtheneighbor-ingstateswhichdonottaxtheiralcoholoratleastnotasheavilyarenowvisitedfrequentlybyresidentsofourstatewhodonotlikepayingtaxes.Sonowthemarijuanaindustryisdanglingthetaxuscar-rotbeforeourlegislaturesasanotherrusetogetmarijuanalegalized.ContinuedESPRITFall20133