S*1211 Concurrent Resolution, By Knotts, Alexander, Anderson, Bright, Bryant, 
Campbell, Campsen, Cleary, Coleman, Courson, Cromer, Davis, Elliott, Fair, Ford, 
Grooms, Hayes, Hutto, Jackson, Land, Leatherman, Leventis, Lourie, Malloy, 
L. Martin, S. Martin, Massey, Matthews, McConnell, McGill, Mulvaney, Nicholson, 
O'Dell, Peeler, Pinckney, Rankin, Reese, Rose, Ryberg, Scott, Setzler, Sheheen, 
Shoopman, Thomas, Verdin and Williams
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE SUPREME SACRIFICE MADE BY
 CAPTAIN MARK R. MCDOWELL OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WHILE HE WAS SERVING A
 TOUR OF MILITARY DUTY IN AFGHANISTAN, AND TO EXPRESS TO HIS FAMILY THE DEEPEST
 APPRECIATION OF A GRATEFUL STATE AND NATION FOR HIS LIFE, SACRIFICE, AND
 SERVICE.

   02/23/10  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-7
   02/24/10  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-8

TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE SUPREME SACRIFICE MADE BY CAPTAIN MARK R. MCDOWELL OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WHILE HE WAS SERVING A TOUR OF MILITARY DUTY IN AFGHANISTAN, AND TO EXPRESS TO HIS FAMILY THE DEEPEST APPRECIATION OF A GRATEFUL STATE AND NATION FOR HIS LIFE, SACRIFICE, AND SERVICE.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, on behalf of all South Carolinians, acknowledge with deep appreciation the great sacrifice that the men and women of the United States Armed Forces make for the ideals of freedom and justice, which are so richly enjoyed in this nation; and

Whereas, Captain Mark R. McDowell of the United States Air Force stands high among those servicemen and women so honored by their country; and

Whereas, as a committed serviceman, Captain McDowell was assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Answering the call of his country, he left his home in the small town of Tamassee in Oconee County to serve in Afghanistan; and

Whereas, on July 18, 2009, at the age of twenty-six, Captain McDowell lost his life for the cause of freedom, dying of injuries sustained when the F-15E Strike Eagle he was piloting crashed due to mechanical failure during a close-air support mission over eastern Afghanistan; and

Whereas, there is no greater or more courageous sacrifice a man can make than to lay down his life for a noble cause, as Captain Mark R. McDowell has done, and to honor his valor, Captain McDowell has been named a recipient of the Lieutenant Governor's Palmetto Patriot Award; and

Whereas, Captain McDowell lives on in the hearts and minds of all who were fortunate enough to know him, including his beloved wife, Katie, parents and stepparents, and two brothers; and

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly counts it a great privilege to remember Captain Mark R. McDowell, one of the Palmetto State's finest, and the members with one voice offer their grateful thanks to Almighty God for the service and ultimate sacrifice of this heroic son of South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, honor and remember the supreme sacrifice made by Captain Mark R. McDowell of the United States Air Force while he was serving a tour of military duty in Afghanistan, and express to his family the deepest appreciation of a grateful State and nation for his life, sacrifice, and service.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Captain Mark R. McDowell.