Warminster Young Marine Earns Prestigious Award

To call Luke Sliwinski's membership in the Young Marines organization a hobby would be a vast understatement. As far as Luke is concerned, his commitment to the Liberty Young Marines feels more like a calling, something that will help him reach his ultimate goal.

"My instructors are training and preparing me to go into the Marine Corps when I am old enough," said Luke.

Luke's commitment to his unit and compassion and respect he shows toward the members of the United States armed services has earned him the Personal Commendation Award ribbon, one of the highest achievements a member of the Young Marines can receive.

Writing in the accompanying certificate, National Executive Director Michael Kessler noted Luke's frequent trips with his mother, Heather, to Walter Reed Hospital to visit wounded soldiers and his fundraising efforts for Operation First Response, a non-profit organization that assists injured soldiers with the transition from the battlefield back to their home lives. Luke also manages his own Facebook page dedicated to the armed services, which has almost 5,000 likes.

"His companionship to wounded warriors at Walter Reed and Bethesda military hospitals has made a difference in their lives as well as their family members," wrote Kessler. "[Luke] has conducted himself as a Young Marine role model for other leaders to emulate and demonstrated an attention to duty and dedication to task that are noted with extreme pleasure."

A four-year-old Luke set his sights on the Young Marines during an air show at the and never wavered from his wish to join the group. Established in 1958, the National Young Marines of the Marine Corps League is open to boys and girls from age 8 to high school. Instructors teach important outdoors and survival skills while fostering valuable qualities such as confidence, discipline and integrity.

According to the organization's main web site, there are more than 300 units in 46 states, Washington D.C. and overseas, with 10,000 youth members and 3,000 parent volunteers.

"The day after my eighth birthday, I went over and signed up," said Luke. After completing the required boot camp exercises with the unit, Luke switched to the Liberty Young Marines, based out of the Willow Grove base. His unit meets every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

All recruits start out with a private first class rank. Much like the Marine Corps, the members can advance to higher promotions by passing physical tests and written exams. Between the announcement that he earned the award and actually receiving it, Luke upgraded his rank from corporal to sergeant. In a few weeks, he will also travel to boot camp as an instructor and assist with the training exercises.

"The average age of new recruits is around 12 years old," said Heather Sliwinski. "Since he started at the youngest age you can join, he outranks a lot of kids."