H*4814 Resolution, By E.H. Pitts, Haley, Ballentine, Bingham, Clark, Frye, 
Huggins, McLeod, Ott, Toole, Agnew, Allen, Altman, Anderson, Anthony, Bailey, 
Bales, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Breeland, G. Brown, 
J. Brown, R. Brown, Cato, Ceips, Chalk, Chellis, Clemmons, Clyburn, Coates, 
Cobb-Hunter, Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, 
Edge, Emory, Funderburk, Govan, Hagood, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, 
Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, Herbkersman, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Hiott, Hodges, 
Hosey, Howard, Jefferson, Jennings, Kennedy, Kirsh, Leach, Limehouse, 
Littlejohn, Loftis, Lucas, Mack, Mahaffey, Martin, McCraw, McGee, Merrill, 
Miller, Mitchell, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, J.M. Neal, Neilson, Norman, Owens, 
Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinson, M.A. Pitts, Rhoad, Rice, Rivers, Rutherford, 
Sandifer, Scarborough, Scott, Simrill, Sinclair, Skelton, D.C. Smith, 
F.N. Smith, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, J.E. Smith, J.R. Smith, W.D. Smith, Stewart, 
Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Townsend, Tripp, Umphlett, Vaughn, Vick, Viers, 
Walker, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Witherspoon and Young
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO HONOR SOUTH CAROLINA NATIVE AND FALLEN HERO MARINE
 LIEUTENANT ALMAR FITZGERALD OF LEXINGTON COUNTY FOR HIS UNDENIABLE COURAGE,
 LEADERSHIP, AND SACRIFICE WHICH HE ADMIRABLY EXEMPLIFIED WHILE PROUDLY SERVING
 HIS COUNTRY AND FIGHTING FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE IN OPERATION
 IRAQI FREEDOM.

   03/15/06  House  Introduced and adopted HJ-7

TO HONOR SOUTH CAROLINA NATIVE AND FALLEN HERO MARINE LIEUTENANT ALMAR FITZGERALD OF LEXINGTON COUNTY FOR HIS UNDENIABLE COURAGE, LEADERSHIP, AND SACRIFICE WHICH HE ADMIRABLY EXEMPLIFIED WHILE PROUDLY SERVING HIS COUNTRY AND FIGHTING FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.

Whereas, known by his coaches for always giving his best efforts on the field and demanding the same from his teammates, Almar Fitzgerald played cornerback as one of the smallest players on the Lexington High School football team, standing at five feet eight inches tall and weighing one hundred sixty pounds; and

Whereas, after high school, he began to pursue his dream of becoming an officer in the Marines by joining the Corps of Cadets at The Citadel; and

Whereas, while attending the Military College of South Carolina, Almar Fitzgerald served as executive officer of Company M, Third Battalion, during his senior year, mentoring and leading fellow cadets. He also worked as a supervisor for The Citadel Foundation's Calling Center, which uses cadets to help recruit donors to the college; and

Whereas, upon graduating from The Citadel in 2004, Fitzgerald gained admission to Officer Candidate School where he continued his quest to eventually become a leader in the Marines. After completion of Officer Candidate School, he became an infantry officer based at Camp Pendleton, California; and

Whereas, after serving in Iraq for six months, Lieutenant Fitzgerald died in a military hospital in Germany where he had been treated for injuries suffered in a bomb blast; and

Whereas, although he fully understood the possibility of casualty at war, Lieutenant Fitzgerald followed his dream and served his country as a leader in the United States Marine Corps with honor; and

Whereas, Lieutenant Fitzgerald will always be remembered for his contagious personality, genuine care for others, and unforgettable smile. He lived life to the fullest; and

Whereas, it is fitting and proper for the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives to pause in their deliberations to pay tribute to this son of South Carolina who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, honor South Carolina native and fallen hero Marine Lieutenant Almar Fitzgerald of Lexington County for his undeniable courage, leadership, and sacrifice which he admirably exemplified while proudly serving his country and fighting for the freedom of the Iraqi people in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the family of Lieutenant Almar Fitzgerald of Lexington County.