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2013 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 765
Celebrating the life of Staff Sergeant Gregory Todd Copes.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 25, 2013
Agreed to by the Senate, January 31, 2013

 

WHEREAS, United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Gregory Todd Copes, a native of Lynchburg, was killed in the line of duty on August 17, 2012, while valiantly serving his country performing combat support during Operation Enduring Freedom in the western province of Farah, Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Greg Copes was born on June 15, 1976, in Lynchburg and graduated from Hargrave Military Academy at Chatham in 1994 and from Longwood University in Farmville in 1999; and

WHEREAS, prior to his military service, Greg Copes worked at Carter Machining in Lynchburg; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the events on September 11, 2001, Greg Copes enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2003 and left for basic training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Copes completed his basic training and various other assignments all over the world; he then earned assignment to the United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Copes was on deployment with the 3rd Marine Special Operations Battalion and served in combat areas while in support of both Operations Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Iraqi Freedom (Iraq); and

WHEREAS, during his nine years of distinguished service, Staff Sergeant Copes earned a Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Copes was devoted to his wife, the former Tia Moody of Altavista; their beloved children, Connor, Emily, Peighton, and Logan; and to his many family members and close friends; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Copes’ death is a reminder of the perils faced daily by the thousands of American men and women who serve in the United States Armed Forces all over the world and whose devotion to duty places them in harm’s way; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of a courageous and patriotic Virginian, Staff Sergeant Gregory Todd Copes; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Staff Sergeant Gregory Todd Copes as an expression of the high regard in which his memory and example is held by the members of the General Assembly and the citizens of the Commonwealth.