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9 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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11 TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE SUPREME SACRIFICE
12 MADE BY SERGEANT MICHAEL J. BECKERMAN OF THE
13 UNITED STATES ARMY WHILE HE WAS SERVING A TOUR
14 OF MILITARY DUTY IN AFGHANISTAN, AND TO EXPRESS
15 TO HIS FAMILY THE PROFOUND APPRECIATION OF A
16 GRATEFUL STATE AND NATION FOR HIS LIFE,
17 SACRIFICE, AND SERVICE.
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19 Whereas, with deep appreciation, the members of the South
20 Carolina General Assembly honor, on behalf of all South
21 Carolinians, the great sacrifice that the men and women of the
22 United States Armed Forces make for the ideals of liberty and
23 justice so richly enjoyed in this nation; and
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25 Whereas, born on July 25, 1985, in Carbondale, Illinois, Sergeant
26 Michael J. Beckerman was the son of Steven M. Beckerman of
27 Sedgewickville, Missouri, and Lisa McGregor of Travelers Rest;
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30 Whereas, his daughter, Brianna Beckerman, of New Haven,
31 Missouri, is two years old; and
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33 Whereas, in 2009, he married Specialist Margaretta Gillis
34 Beckerman of Clarksville, Tennessee, who was on duty in
35 Afghanistan at the time of his death; and
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37 Whereas, answering the call of his country to serve in Afghanistan
38 with A Company, 2nd Brigade Support Troop Battalion, 2nd
39 Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault),
40 Sergeant Beckerman deployed with his unit from Fort Campbell,
41 Kentucky; and
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1 Whereas, his exemplary military service earned him such military
2 honors as the Army Commendation Medal two times, the Army
3 Achievement Medal two times, the Army Good Conduct Medal
4 two times, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan
5 Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, and the Iraq Campaign
6 Medal with Bronze Service Star; and
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8 Whereas, on December 31, 2010, at the age of twenty-five,
9 Sergeant Michael J. Beckerman gave his life in Kandahar
10 Province, Afghanistan, after suffering wounds sustained during an
11 improvised-explosive-device attack on his unit during combat
12 operations; and
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14 Whereas, there is no greater or braver sacrifice for a man to make
15 for his country than to lay down his life; therefore, for his valor,
16 Sergeant Beckerman received the Palmetto Patriot Award from
17 former Lieutenant Governor André Bauer; and
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19 Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is honored to
20 remember the life and sacrifice of one of our nation’s brave sons
21 and heroes, Sergeant Michael J. Beckerman. Now, therefore,
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23 Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives
24 concurring:
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26 That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this
27 resolution, honor and remember the supreme sacrifice made by
28 Sergeant Michael J. Beckerman of the United States Army while
29 he was serving a tour of military duty in Afghanistan, and express
30 to his family the profound appreciation of a grateful State and
31 nation for his life, sacrifice, and service.
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33 Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to
34 the family of Sergeant Michael J. Beckerman.
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