TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE SUPREME SACRIFICE MADE BY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KALIN C.L. JOHNSON OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY 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, Private First Class Kalin C.L. Johnson of the United States Army stands high among those servicemen and women so honored by their country; and
Whereas, as a committed serviceman, Private First Class Kalin C.L. Johnson was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany. Answering the call of his country, he left his family and home to serve abroad as a part of the war on terror; and
Whereas, on March 8, 2011, at the age of nineteen, Private First Class Johnson lost his life for the cause of freedom, dying of injuries sustained in a noncombat-related incident in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan; and
Whereas, the General Assembly offers its deepest sympathy to Private First Class Johnson's family in their loss: his mother, Ronda "Kay" Johnson; his father, Brenton C.L. Johnson; his son, Logan Johnson; and his fiancée, Courtney Waites; 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 Private First Class Kalin C.L. Johnson has done, and to honor his valor, Private First Class Johnson has been named a recipient of the Palmetto Patriot Award, given by former Lieutenant Governor André Bauer; and
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly counts it a great privilege to remember Private First Class Kalin C.L. Johnson, and the members with one voice offer their grateful thanks to Almighty God for the service and ultimate sacrifice of this heroic son of liberty. 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 Private First Class Kalin C.L. Johnson of the United States Army 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 Private First Class Kalin C.L. Johnson.