A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of adam lee marion, former member of the army national guard.
Whereas, Adam Lee Marion was born in Surry County on January 19, 1982; and
Whereas, Adam Lee Marion graduated from Surry Central High School in 2000; and
Whereas, Adam Lee Marion was an employee of the Children's Center of Surry, Inc., and a member of the Piney Grove Baptist Church in Mount Airy; and
Whereas, Adam Lee Marion became a member of the Army National Guard, joining the 883rd Engineer Company in Mount Airy as a Combat Engineer in March of 2007; and
Whereas, after graduating from Basic Training and Combat Engineer School in July 2007, Pfc. Marion volunteered to mobilize and deploy with the 171st Engineer Company from St. Pauls, North Carolina; and
Whereas, Pfc. Marion's company, composed of approximately 100 soldiers, mobilized in June of 2007 and deployed to Baghdad in September of 2007; and
Whereas, Pfc. Marion served as an operator of the "Husky" vehicle, which leads improvised explosive device clearing operation convoys; and
Whereas, Pfc. Marion helped to detect numerous explosive devices in over 100 Route Clearance Missions in the Baghdad area, thereby saving many lives and earning the respect and admiration of those he protected; and
Whereas, Pfc. Marion was killed during an indirect fire attack on a base near Baghdad on April 28, 2008; and
Whereas, Pfc. Marion was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terror Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Combat Action Badge, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/M Device, Army Service Ribbon, Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Overseas Service Bar; and
Whereas, Pfc. Marion is survived by his parents, Donnie Lee Marion and Pam McCormick Marion; sister and brother‑in‑law, Adrian and Terry McCann; nephew and niece, Connor McCann and Marissa McCann; grandmothers, Stella Marion and Annie Lou McCormick; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Pfc. Adam Lee Marion and expresses the gratitude of this State for the service he rendered as a citizen soldier of the Army National Guard.
SECTION 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Pfc. Adam Lee Marion.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.