From an 8-year-old boy at Boys Town to proud member of the United States Marine Corps

In December of 1999, I arrived at Boys Town in Las Vegas, NV as an 8-year-old boy who had no clue his life was about to change forever. At the time, I was the youngest youth ever to come to Boys Town and be given a second chance. I am forever grateful for that opportunity.

Boys Town instilled in me the core values of life, including a strong work ethic that one needs to be a productive member of society and to never take for granted the blessings in life or give up when it gets hard. Boys Town is the reason I am the father I am today to my 7-year-old son, the husband I am to my beautiful wife, the son I am to my parents and the brother I am to my three brothers.

After leaving Boys Town, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and had the honor of serving two combat tours in Afghanistan. After my service in the Marines, I wanted to continue to serve my community back home in Las Vegas. Today, I am a Special Victims Detective with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. I also have the honor of serving on the Board of Directors at the Boys Town Nevada site where my former Family-Teacher, John Etzell, is now the Executive Director.

At Boys Town I learned how to be part of a family and community, and to come to admire and value the great quote from former President John F. Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” I try to take that into everything I do in life today.

- Francisco Mazon