May is a busy month for Benjamin Hulburt and Evan Payne.
The pair is preparing to graduate Thursday from Cumberland County High School. And last week they gave their final salutes as members of the Cumberland County Young Marines.
After a May 3 graduation and retirement ceremony at the American Legion Hall, the two former staff sergeants solemnly looked over the accolades they had been presented.
“We’ve only just begun, sir,” Payne said to his fellow classmate and former Young Marine officer.
“Oh, yeah!” Hulburt replied.
The Young Marines, an organization for ages 8-18, teaches discipline, teamwork and leadership through various drills and community activities. They present the colors at county and city of Crossville governmental meetings and serve during veterans ceremonies and other community events.
Hulburt has been a part of the Young Marines since Feb. 3, 2018; Payne joined March 23, 2019. As part of their retirement, the two were presented with flags that were flown at the Cumberland County Courthouse and Crossville City Hall.
The ceremony included those Young Marines they led passing each young man’s flag hand to hand, each issuing a salute as the flags made their way to the unit commander and were presented first to Hulburt, then to Payne.
During the ceremony, the staff sergeants were given opportunities to speak before their final salutes as Young Marines.
“Y’all are the reason I am the way I am today,” Hulburt said, thanking commanders and adult volunteers. He expressed a deep appreciation to the remaining troops for allowing him to teach them while assuring them that they had taught him even more.
Payne, the more loquacious of the pair, tasked those he’s leaving behind “to be better than us and to take leadership and run with it.”
He asked, “Are you ready? Are you ready to face the challenge?”
While the two have bid farewell to their days with the Cumberland County unit, their service will continue. Payne is trading the Young Marines for the U.S. Marine Corps, Hulburt has enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
Both will ship out June 10 and report for duty the following day. Hulburt will report for boot camp at Great Lakes, IL. Payne’s Marine training will be at Parris Island, SC.
A luncheon in the young men’s honor followed the ceremony. The luncheon included two cakes — one dedicated to each graduate, decorated with his likeness and term of service.