TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR MASTER GUNNERY SERGEANT JULIUS SPAIN, SR., OF THE UNITED STATES MARINES ON EARNING AN HONORABLE MENTION FOR THE 2012 MILITARY TIMES MARINE OF THE YEAR AWARD.

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, so richly enjoyed in this nation; and

Whereas, Master Gunnery Sergeant Julius Spain, Sr., of the United States Marines stands high among those servicemen and women so honored by their country and most recently has been recognized for his exemplary service by the Military Times, which has chosen him to receive an honorable mention for its 2012 Marine of the Year award; and

Whereas, in addition to the Military Times honor, this twenty-two-year career Marine was recently promoted to his present position of master gunnery sergeant, the highest enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps; and

Whereas, in March 2010, Julius Spain, then a master sergeant, was competitively selected to participate in the Department of Defense's Congressional Fellowship program as a representative of the United States Marine Corps. He began work in United States Senator Johnnie Isakson's office in January 2011; and

Whereas, since completion of his fellowship in January 2012, he has served in the Marine Corps' Office of Legislative Affairs at the Pentagon, where he is senior enlisted advisor to Brigadier General Steven R. Rudder, legislative assistant to the commandant of the Marine Corps; and

Whereas, a 1990 graduate of Conway High School, Master Gunnery Sergeant Spain is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Allen Spain and Ester Mae Spain of the Bucksville Community. He and his wife, Adriana, are the proud parents of three children, Monique, Julius, Jr., and Leana; and

Whereas, during his career in the Marine Corps, he has traveled the world and served in diverse locations, such as Belgium, Germany, Iraq, Kuwait, and Japan. One assignment took him to Parris Island, where he served as a drill instructor from 1999 to 2002; and

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly counts it a great privilege to honor Master Gunnery Sergeant Julius Spain, Sr., one of the Palmetto State's finest, and the members with one voice commend the dedicated, sacrificial labors of this worthy son of South Carolina in the military of our great country. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor Master Gunnery Sergeant Julius Spain, Sr., of the United States Marines on earning an honorable mention for the 2012 Military Times Marine of the Year award.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Master Gunnery Sergeant Julius Spain, Sr.