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TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF PLATT SPRINGS ROAD IN LEXINGTON COUNTY FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 6 TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH KYZER ROAD THE "LANCE CORPORAL JOSHUA L. TORRENCE MEMORIAL HIGHWAY" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS ALONG THIS PORTION OF HIGHWAY THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "LANCE CORPORAL JOSHUA L. TORRENCE MEMORIAL HIGHWAY".
Whereas, Lance Corporal Joshua Louis Torrence was born in Wooster, Ohio, on July 26, 1984, and moved with his family to Lexington, South Carolina, in 1992; and
Whereas, he was the son of Mr. Vernon and Mrs. Regina Torrence of Lexington; and
Whereas, Lance Corporal Torrence attended White Knoll High School and excelled in athletics, including football, track and field during his high school career; and
Whereas, when White Knoll High School opened in August 2000, he played offensive tackle on the school's first junior varsity football team, and also participated in track and field, setting some of the school's earliest records; and
Whereas, he went on to become an instrumental member of the White Knoll High School Timberwolves varsity football team, where he was a starting offensive lineman; and
Whereas, he was well-liked and well-respected by his fellow players, coaches, and other White Knoll students, faculty and staff; and
Whereas, upon graduation from White Knoll High School in 2005, he joined the United States Marine Corps, and after completing basic training at Parris Island Marine Corps Base in April 2004, he traveled to Camp Pendleton, California, and was assigned to an amphibious assault vehicle unit; and
Whereas, in September of 2004, Lance Corporal Torrence was shipped to Al-Asad, Iraq for duty in service of his country; and
Whereas, shortly after arrival, Joshua and his crew members were transferred to Fallujah, where he served as Lance Corporal with the 2nd Amphibian Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp LeJeune, North Carolina; and
Whereas, he received several medals during his service, including awards for serving in the global war on terrorism and the National Defense Service Medal; and
Whereas, Lance Corporal Torrence was a fearless leader who, during his tour in Fallujah, made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country when he lost his life while on patrol on March 14, 2005; and
Whereas, on November 2, 2005, the White Knoll High School football stadium field house was named in his honor, forever being known as the "Joshua L. Torrence Memorial Field House"; and
Whereas, it is fitting and proper to forever recognize Lance Corporal Joshua L. Torrence's heroism and bravery by also having a portion of Platt Springs Road in Lexington County named in his honor. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, request that the Department of Transportation name the portion of Platt Springs Road in Lexington County from its intersection with South Carolina Highway 6 to its intersection with Kyzer Road the "Lance Corporal Joshua L. Torrence Memorial Highway" and erect appropriate markers or signs along this portion of highway that contain the words "Lance Corporal Joshua L. Torrence Memorial Highway".
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.
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