Young Marines Alumni Association announces creation of Alumni Samuel K. Beamon Sr. Public Service Award, Names MG Barrye L. Price Ph.D, USA (Ret.) as first Recipient

This annual award is intended to recognize those alumni that have distinguished themselves through a lifetime of public service or significant and outstanding accomplishments in a public service career. “Young Marines serve their communities in any number of ways, and we want to distinguish Young Marine Alum who carry the value of service to adulthood,” says Jason D. Asbill, Esq., Executive Director of the Young Marines Alumni Association.

 

Mr. Beamon (1947—2018) joined the Young Marines upon its founding in 1959 at Waterbury, CT and was the epitome of a public servant. After his Young Marine career, he went on to enlist in the United States Marine Corps and flew a combined 320 combat missions in Vietnam as a helicopter mechanic, crew chief, and aerial gunner. After serving his country in the Marines, he went on to serve his community as a Waterbury police officer for 28 years and rose through the ranks to command the juvenile division.

Mr. Beamon had a passion for veterans and youth. After retiring he served in leadership positions within the Marine Corps League and the Waterbury Veterans Memorial Committee. He was inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame. Along with giving back his time to the Young Marines, he was an oft requested guest speaker at schools to discuss patriotism, citizenship, and service.

 

The inaugural recipient of the award is Major General Barrye L. Price, Ph.D, Army (Ret.). He was a Young Marine in Detroit. After Young Marines, Price went on to serve in the United States Army 31 years with duty stations both domestic and abroad. MG Price serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations and is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), a nonprofit organization that is committed to creating safe, healthy, and drug-free communities.

 

“General Price is an exceptional individual who continues to serve his country, just as Beamon did for so many years,” said Asbill. “What’s more, Mr. Price is serving an organization whose mission directly aligns with the mission of the Young Marines organization; to promote a healthy-drug free lifestyle.”

 

In his remarks, MG Price stated, “Though my time in the Young Marines was limited, the impact the program had on me was not. As a young man, it set in me values that I would carry on for life as I traversed my educational and military careers.”

 

On hand in Orlando to help present the award were some of Sam Beamon’s family including his son (Samuel Jr.) and two brothers (Reginald and Greg). “Our family is honored to have an award created in Sam’s name. He was a great man and the Young Marines organization held a special place in his heart. He would have been proud to present this award to such a fine man as Mr. Price.”