In observance of National Volunteer Month in April, the Young Marines named Heartland resident Jacqueline Bracey as Young Marines Adult Volunteer of the Year for Division 4. She is the Unit Commander for the Kaufman County East Young Marines who meet in Crandall. She will vie with five other division Adult Volunteers of the Year for the top national honor, Young Marines National Adult Volunteer of the Year, to be announced April 22, 2023, at the Young Marines Awards Banquet in Dale City, Virginia.
The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501(c) (3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through high school graduation. The organization promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork, and self-discipline, so its members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
Out of six divisions in the U.S., Division 4 encompasses nine states: Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.
“Jacqueline’s leadership role as a mentor and teacher as well as her passion and tireless dedication to our Young Marines is exemplary,” said Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. “April is National Volunteer Month and Jacqueline is the perfect adult volunteer to demonstrate this year’s theme: Shining a Light on the People and Causes that Inspire Us to Serve.”
She began with the Young Marines program in 2019 as an adult volunteer when she clearly saw the positive impact the program was making with the youth of today. She works tirelessly for the program, and she explains why.
“The rewards are endless. I watch a young person move towards a spirit of encouragement, academic improvement, and self-awareness,” said Bracey. “This is not really a reward; it is my heart’s work and keeps me moving forward. Our motto is ‘One and Done, All or None’. It is my absolute joy and a blessing to be a part of our youths’ enlightened journey – one child at a time.”
Kaufman County East Young Marines is continually active in service throughout the area. With thousands of volunteer hours of community service, the unit has been active in numerous community and veterans’ events.
For more information about the Kaufman County East Young Marines, visit the Young Marines website at https:// youngmarines.org/unit/ kaufmancountyeast/page.
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