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| Contributed photo Emma Rossignol was recently named Young Marine of the Year for the County Patriot Young Marines. She is the daughter of Willa Rossignol of Connor. |
By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
Eleven-year-old Emma Rossignol has been named the 2012 Young Marine of the Year for the County Patriot Young Marines.
Rossignol, a three-year member of the CPYMs, has already earned the rank of lance corporal within the group and says that she enjoys the teamwork involved with being a Young Marine.
“[The County Patriot Young Marines] teaches us about discipline, dedication and persistence,” Rossignol said, adding that she’s also learned a lot about public speaking through the group’s efforts to promote drug-free healthy lifestyles.
Unit Commander Diane Norton said that the Young Marine of the Year Award is one of the highest honors the Young Marines program can pay to a Young Marine in recognition for their outstanding participation, contribution and personal achievement.
“[Rossignol] has represented the County Patriots with hard work and dedication, and is currently working toward becoming a YM Corporal,” Norton said. “We’re all very proud of her.”
While Rossignol received her recognition during the last award ceremony of the CPYM by training officers Dan Deschaine and Pete Marquis, she had no idea prior that she was going to be selected Young Marine of the Year.
“I had butterflies in my stomach,” she recalled, “I didn’t think it was going to be me.”
Rossignol says that she’s become much more disciplined since joining the organization in 2009, and anticipates that she’ll be expected to accept a little more responsibility now that she’s been named the County Patriot Young Marine of the Year. A little extra responsibility is something that she seems to be looking forward to, particularly since she wants to join the Army and be a nurse when she grows up.
The sixth-grader is the daughter of Willa Rossignol of Connor, and she’ll be graduating from the Connor School this spring.
Anyone who’s seen the Young Marines marching in parades or standing stoically still during patriotic events knows of the group’s serious resolve — but the kids also have a lot of fun along the way learning things like survival skills and how to read a map and compass. Team-building activities, like white water rafting, are also tremendously popular amongst the youths.
“Our Young Marines are always striving for the knowledge part, but even in encampments we’ll set aside a day just for fun,” Norton said.
Additional information about the group can be found by visiting their Facebook page.
