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TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE BRIDGE THAT CROSSES SHOAL CREEK IN PICKENS COUNTY ALONG SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 186 "SERGEANT FIRST CLASS MATTHEW BRADFORD THOMAS MEMORIAL BRIDGE" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS BRIDGE CONTAINING THESE WORDS.
Whereas, on June 20, 2012, at the age of 30, Sergeant First Class Matthew Bradford "Brad" Thomas gave his life near a crowded marketplace in Khost, Afghanistan, at the foot of the mountains along the Pakistan border, when a bomber approached Afghan and United States soldiers at their traffic control post and detonated the charge during lunch time; and
Whereas, as a teenager, Brad Thomas earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, graduated from Traveler's Rest High School in 1999, and joined the South Carolina National Guard shortly after 9-11. He worked at Charter Media before being deployed; and
Whereas, assigned to the 51st Military Police Battalion's 133rd Military Police Company of the South Carolina National Guard, nicknamed the "Palmetto Regulators" and based in Timmonsville, Sergeant Thomas answered his country's call to deploy with one hundred seventy soldiers of his company to Khost Province; and
Whereas, there is no greater or braver sacrifice for a man to make for his country than to lay down his life; and
Whereas, it would be fitting and proper to recognize the courage and bravery of this fallen hero by naming a bridge in Pickens County in his honor. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly request the Department of Transportation name the bridge that crosses Shoal Creek in Pickens County along South Carolina Highway 186 "Sergeant First Class Matthew Bradford Thomas Memorial Bridge" and erect appropriate markers or signs at this bridge containing these words.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.
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