Proud to be an American
Cpl. Miguel Francisco
Miguel Francisco rides a tricycle with his family during a recent trip to the Philippines. A tricycle is one of the the main modes of transportation.
Miguel Francisco, 13, of Washington, poses with students at Sinilian Third Elementary School, a remote, impoverished school in the Philippines, after talking about the Washington County Young Marines program. He also presented them with gently used unit shirts as a token of friendship.
Miguel Francisco enjoys spreading the word about the Washington County Young Marines.
His latest adventure took him all the way to his father’s native Philippines, where he told students at Sinilian Third Elementary School all about the program and the influence it’s had on his young life.
“I wanted to join the Young Marines because I always wanted to serve my country, and I knew I couldn’t do that until I was at least 18,” said Miguel, 13, son of Felix and Coni Francisco of Washington. “My goal is to be a Marine.”
Miguel, an eighth-grade honor student at Commonwealth Connections Academy, became a member of Civil Air Patrol, Washington Squadron 601, three years ago after he saw a bunch of kids his age in uniform at a re-enactment in West Virginia. When they told him about the Young Marines, he was immediately sold.
Last year, Miguel was named the squadron’s Cadet of the Year.
What he finds most appealing about the program – other than the fact it’s providing a solid foundation for his future – is the community service it involves.
And the proof is in the fact he became the squadron’s first member to be honored with the Civil Air Patrol’s Community Service Ribbon. Miguel logged 108 hours volunteering in various fundraisers to benefit the Veterans Administration Hospital, Fallen Soldiers Program, Heroes Without Families and Wounded Warrior Project, plus the Washington Salvation Army, where he volunteers each week as an assistant instructor in martial arts.
“I want to be in the martial arts program in the Marine Corps and be a military police officer,” said Miguel, who is a second-degree black belt and junior instructor at Shraders Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Washington.
Miguel made the trip to the Philippines with his father, who is a first-generation immigrant to be a U.S. citizen. He and Miguel’s mother met while they were working in Taiwan.
“Miguel is the first generation in his family to be born in the United States,” his mother said. “He is very proud to be an American and Filipino.”
After speaking with students in the remote, impoverished village school in the Philippines, Miguel gave them gently used shirts from the Young Marines as a token of friendship from the Washington County unit. Then he spent the rest of the day attending classes with his cousin at the school.
“He knows what it is like to have all the things American kids have, but he also knows what it is like to not have things in the Philippines,” Coni said. “He wished he had more because there were more kids than shirts. They were so happy to have such a cool shirt from America.”
Since it is so expensive to travel overseas, this was just Miguel’s second trip to the Philippines to visit his family.
“I lived in Asia for seven years. I don’t mind that I don’t go sometimes. My husband needs to see his family,” said Coni, who stayed at home. “I’ve already been there, and lived there. It was a great learning experience for Miguel.”
Miguel would like to visit his Filipino family every year, but since that’s not possible, he made the most of his latest visit.
In addition to talking about the Young Marines, he visited the family’s rice fields, and he attended a blessing ceremony after he helped his uncle buy a vehcile.
“I really enjoyed it a lot,” Miguel said. “I got to see my family for the second time in my whole life.”