SJ5080: Celebrating the life of Jimmy Mills Hargrove.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5080

Offered September 9, 2014
Celebrating the life of Jimmy Mills Hargrove.

Patrons-- Wagner and McWaters; Delegates: Davis, DeSteph, Knight, Stolle, Taylor and Villanueva

WHEREAS, Jimmy Mills Hargrove of Virginia Beach, a proud member of the historic Montford Point Marines, died on July 29, 2014; and

WHEREAS, a native of Detroit, Jimmy Hargrove was raised in Birmingham, Alabama, where he was inspired to serve his country as a United States Marine when a recruiter visited his school; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Hargrove enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1948 and began training at Camp Montford Point in North Carolina, where the first African American Marines were trained between 1942 and 1949; and

WHEREAS, serving his country honorably and courageously, in 1953 Jimmy Hargrove deployed to Korea, where his unit provided security to an air base; he continued to rise through the ranks and deployed to Vietnam in 1970 as a mastery gunnery sergeant; and

WHEREAS, after a distinguished 30-year career, Jimmy Hargrove settled in Virginia Beach and worked for the Virginian-Pilot until his well-earned retirement in 1993; and

WHEREAS, in June 2012, Jimmy Hargrove and almost 400 other Montford Point Marines received the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their service and sacrifice during and after World War II; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Hargrove enjoyed fellowship and worship with the community as an active member of Rock Church International; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Hargrove will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife and five sons and numerous other family members, friends, and fellow Marines; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Jimmy Mills Hargrove, a proud veteran and a respected member of the Virginia Beach community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Jimmy Mills Hargrove as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.