Four teenagers from the Akron area will take part in a parade at Pearl Harbor today to mark the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack that prompted the United States to enter World War II.The four youths are members of the Chesty Puller Young Marines organization. Those on the Hawaiian trip include Marine Gunnery Sgt. Isabelle Giacoma, 16, a junior at Coventry High School, and the daughter of Allen and Charlotte Giacoma of Coventry Township; Marine Staff Sgt. Kaitlyn Lewis, 14, a freshman at Kent Roosevelt High School, and the daughter of James and Karol Lewis of Kent; Marine Sgt. Quinn Braun, 15, a sophomore at Walsh Jesuit High School and the son of Laura and Bradley Braun of Richfield; and Marine Sgt. Andrew Widowski, 16, a junior at Brunswick High School, the son of Ralph and Jinny Widowski of Brunswick.Adults on the trip include Unit Commander Ron Pownall of Rootstown, Unit Adjutant Charlotte Butcher-Giacoma and Ralph and Jinny Widowski.The group raised about $13,000 to make the journey. They raised money through fundraisers as well as donations from the Chesty Puller Marines Corps League Detachment No. 269 of Cuyahoga Falls, Polish Legion of American Veterans Pulaski Post No. 32 of Akron, VFW Post 1055 of Ravenna and American Legion Post 331 in Ravenna.On Tuesday, the group participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the USS Arizona and today will be part of a group of 200 Young Marines from around the country to be in the parade.The Young Marines is a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school, that was founded in 1958.The group meets 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays at VFW Post 1055, 6000 N. Milford Road, Ravenna.For more information about the Young Marines program, visit www.youngmarines.com or www.chestypulleryoung
marines.com or call Katie Haring at 330-322-7275.Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or at jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.