SR57: Celebrating the life of Lance Corporal Daniel Todd Morris.
WHEREAS, United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal Daniel Todd Morris of Raphine in Augusta County died in the line of duty in Iraqon February 14, 2007; and
WHEREAS, a 2005 graduate of Wilson Memorial High School in Fishersville, Daniel Morris was an excellent student and played trumpet in the marching band; and
WHEREAS, Daniel Morris had decided as a youngster that he wanted to serve in the military, and a few months after graduating from high school, he departed for basic training and in March 2006, he graduated from the infantry school at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Morris was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division based at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and was deployed to Iraq with his unit in September 2006 for an eight-month combat tour; and
WHEREAS, on February 14, 2007, Lance Corporal Morris' unit was patrolling a security checkpoint in Al Anbar province when an improvised explosive device detonated; and
WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Morris was awarded the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon; and
WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Morris was devoted to hisyounger brother Jonathan and to his mother, Carol Morris Wendell, whom he had just sent a dozen roses for Valentine's Day; and
WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Morris will be remembered for his generosity, commitment, and sense of purpose and will be sorely missed by his family and many dear friends; and
WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Morris' death is a reminder of the hazards faced daily by the thousands of Americans who serve in our armed forces overseas and whose devotion to duty places them in harm's way; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of a courageous and patriotic Virginian, Lance Corporal Daniel Todd Morris; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Lance Corporal Daniel Todd Morris as an expression of the high regard in which his memory is held by the members of the Senate and the citizens of Virginia.