A Young Marine Distinguished Order of Merit was presented to Tyson Henry recently.

Commandant Phil Yin of the Fountain Hills Marine Corps League Detachment presented Henry, a Young Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant, with the award. The Young Marines Unit partners with the local league at several events during the year, including the two annual art fairs.

The East Valley Young Marines is located in Mesa. For more information, visit youngmarines.com.

The Young Marine Distinguished Order of Merit (DOM) is the highest achievement award a Young Marine or a Registered Adult can earn. This award is intended to recognize those who have demonstrated, through their superlative example, the values the program considers worthy of special recognition. The DOM is intended for those senior Young Marines who have committed themselves to the ideals of the Young Marine program.

The Young Marines strengthens the lives of America’s youth by teaching the importance of self-confidence, academic achievement, honoring our veterans, good citizenship, community service, and living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building and leadership and promotes a lifestyle that is conducive to being productive members of society.

Since the Young Marines’ beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to 280 units with 7,000 youth and 2,500 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia and Okinawa with affiliates in other countries.

The Fountain Hills Marine Corps League meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Post 58. More information is available at mclnational.org.