New Day Scholarship
Award Amount ($500-$5,000)
The New Day Scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to deserving students who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership potential, and a commitment to community service. By expanding our reach beyond the First Battalion Ninth Marines community, we seek to invest in the next generation of leaders and contribute to the educational success of society as a whole.
Eligibility Criteria
Be a high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student enrolled in an accredited institution.
Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Demonstrate a record of leadership and community involvement.
Submit a completed application, including an essay on the impact of service and education in shaping a better future.
Cpl. Jonathan Yale
In honor of the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of Cpl. Jonathan Tyler Yale, USMC, we are proud to establish the New Day Scholarship bearing his name. This scholarship stands as a testament to a young Marine who dedicated his life to something greater than himself, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire those who follow.
From his childhood in Virginia, Jonathan Yale was a force of nature. His grandfather, William Sydnor Sr., fondly remembers their countless adventures "in the bush and the thicket," where Jonathan earned the nickname "Wild Man" for his fearless enthusiasm. Despite the inevitable scratches and scrapes from the woods, Jonathan’s love for those wild explorations never faded.
At home, Jonathan was a beloved son, brother, and friend. His mother, Rebecca Yale, described him as "the class clown, even when he wasn’t at school." Yet, despite his playful nature, he was equally content to stay home with his mother to watch a chick flick, armed with a box of Kleenex. "He was the best boy you could ask for," she told the Associated Press in 2008, a sentiment echoed by everyone who knew him.
Jonathan’s passion for life extended to hobbies he pursued with determination and joy. He became an "awesome skateboarder" and one of the top paintball players in the area, even setting up a website for a paintball team he founded. His dedication to his interests and his community was a defining trait. When he was stationed at Camp Lejeune, his mother and sister moved to North Carolina to be closer to him—testament to the close bond they shared.
On April 22, 2008, Cpl. Yale, serving as an Anti-Tank Missile man with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, stood his ground at the Entry Control Point (ECP) for Joint Security Station Nasser in Ramadi, Iraq. Alongside Lance Cpl. Jordan C. Haerter of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, he faced an approaching truck laden with approximately 2,000 pounds of explosives. The two Marines acted without hesitation, recognizing the threat and engaging the truck with precise fire, ultimately stopping it mere feet from their position.
The explosion that followed took Jonathan Yale’s life, but not before he and Lance Cpl. Haerter, also killed, saved the lives of more than 50 Marines and Iraqi policemen. Their selfless bravery earned Cpl. Yale the Navy Cross for his "extraordinary heroism" and "total devotion to duty." His courage under fire embodies the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Maj. Charles E. Miller of the Richmond Marine Recruiting Battalion captured the essence of Jonathan’s heroism during a ceremony honoring his sacrifice: “Those two Marines, in demonstrating a belief in something bigger than themselves, have continued the legacy of a lot of great Marines who have come before them—a legacy all of us across the services can look to and hope to build.”
Another speaker at the ceremony challenged those present to reflect on their own lives: “Most of us would not be held as a hero when we leave this world, but we have the opportunity now to model a fraction of Cpl. Yale’s bravery and courage. I challenge each of you to ask yourself ‘What will the headlines read when your story comes to an end? What will your family, friends and strangers say about the content of your character? Will you be the hero in your story?’”
The New Day Scholarship, created in Cpl. Jonathan Tyler Yale’s name, aims to honor his legacy by supporting the next generation of leaders who strive to embody his courage, selflessness, and commitment to service. As we remember the life of a young man who gave everything to protect others, we are reminded of the impact one person can have on the world.
It is our honor to offer the New Day Scholarship in the name of Cpl. Jonathan Tyler Yale, USMC, recipient of The Navy Cross