South Carolina General Assembly
118th Session, 2009-2010

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Bill 531


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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE SUPREME SACRIFICE MADE BY CAPTAIN GARRETT T. LAWTON OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS 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 Garrett T. Lawton of the United States Marine Corps stands high among those servicemen and women so honored by their country; and

Whereas, as a committed serviceman, Captain Garrett T. Lawton was assigned to United States Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Answering the call of his country, this native of Beaufort left his family and home in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, to serve in Afghanistan; and

Whereas, on August 4, 2008, at the age of thirty-one, Captain Lawton lost his life in Herat Province, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations; and

Whereas, he leaves his beloved wife, Trisha Lawton; his two young sons, Ryan and Caden; his parents, sister, and grandparents; and

Whereas, rightly proud of Captain Lawton's accomplishments, the family cherishes his awards, which include the Bronze Star with Combat V (for valor), two Purple Hearts, seven Air Medals, the Achievement Medal from both the Navy and Marine Corps, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, NATO Medal, and Certification of Commendation. Additionally, he was designated as a Navy flight officer and a Marine Corps parachutist; 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 Garrett T. Lawton has done, and to honor his valor, Captain Lawton has been named a recipient of the Lieutenant Governor's Palmetto Patriot Award; and

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly counts it a great privilege to remember Captain Garrett T. Lawton, 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 Garrett T. Lawton of the United States Marine Corps 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 Garrett T. Lawton.

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