When Christine Colacion‑Zuniga first shuttled her daughter Kayla to Young Marines meetings in Fort Worth, she could not have imagined that she would later become the unit commander for the Denton County chapter. In 2022 she formally chartered the unit, filling a gap left by a declining Dallas chapter and giving Denton families a local option for youth development.
Building character and leadership
The Denton County Young Marines now ranks among the state’s most active education and service programs for children ages 8 to 18. The organization’s mission is not to recruit for the military but to foster mental, moral and physical growth through character building, leadership training, a drug‑free lifestyle and service to veterans and the broader community.
Recruits commit to 26 hours of structured training that includes orientation, close‑order drill, navigation, map reading and physical fitness. After graduation they earn the title of Young Marine, wear a uniform, receive ribbon awards, pursue promotions and take part in community events such as color guard duties, veteran‑appreciation parades, flag ceremonies and local service projects.
Local impact and community service
“Our kids today have lost touch with many important values, and this helps them head down a better path,” said Colacion‑Zuniga. Participants learn public speaking, interview skills, academic discipline and grooming standards, all of which build confidence and a sense of belonging.
The unit meets the first and third Saturday of each month at American Legion Post 71 in Denton. Recent activities include the annual Toys for Tots drive, which collected over 121,883 toys for roughly 40,627 children across Denton, Cook, Wise and Montague counties, and Red Ribbon Week, the organization’s version of a “Say No to Drugs” campaign.
Family success stories
Kayla, Colacion‑Zuniga’s daughter, entered the program at age 10, graduated in 2020 and now serves as an aviation structural mechanic in the U.S. Navy. Her Young Marines experience led to notable milestones such as a wreath‑laying ceremony at Pearl Harbor, leading a memorial parade there and escorting World War II veterans to Iwo Jima.
Today the Denton County unit has six active Young Marines and five recent recruits who began on Sept. 19. Parents report dramatic improvements in their children’s manners, discipline and teamwork, noting that while not every graduate chooses a military career, many do pursue service‑oriented paths.
Looking ahead
Beyond local events, Young Marines from across the nation gather annually in Washington, D.C., for the Memorial Day Parade, in Window Rock, Arizona, to honor the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II, and in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for a national parade. The Denton County chapter plans to continue expanding its reach, offering more youth the chance to develop leadership skills grounded in faith, family values and patriotic service.
For families interested in enrolling a youth or supporting the program, contact Unit Commander Christine Colacion‑Zuniga at 940‑808‑9374, visit the unit’s webpage, or email [email protected].
Original reporting: Cross Timbers Gazette — read the source article.
