SR 148 — Celebrating the life of John Robert Thompson.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 23105362DSENATE IRESOLUTION SENAOfferedNO. February 17, 2023 N Celebrating the life of John Robert Thompson.

––––––––––148 TE Patron––NormentCelebrating R –––––––––– O WHEREAS, John Robert Thompson, an honorable veteran and beloved member of the Westlife Point community who was notably one of the Montford Point Marines, the first Black recruits to serve Dith theWHEREAS, a lifelong resident of West Point, John ThompsonRobert excelledThompson. in his studies at the former Beverly Allen High School in West Point and later attended what is now Virginia State University;

andN R Agreed to by the Senate, February 21, 2023 WHEREAS, John ThompsonRobert joinedThompson, thean Unitedhonorable Statesveteran Marineand Corpsbeloved shortlymember afterof the branchWest beganPoint CO acceptingcommunity Blackwho recruitswas innotably 1942,one andof hethe servedMontford Point Marines, the nationfirst Black recruits to serve with honorL andthe distinctionUnited inStates OkinawE,Marine Japan,Corps, duringdied Worldon WarOctober II;15, 2002;

and WHEREAS,L afterBeverly PublicAllen LawHigh No:School in West Point and later attended what is now Virginia State University;

112-59anE wasWHEREAS, signedJohn byThompson Presidentjoined Barackthe ObamaUnited inStates 2011,Marine JohnCorps Dshortly Montfordafter Pointthe inbranch Northbegan Carolinaaccepting betweenBlack 1942recruits in 1942, and 1949he whenserved the campnation waswith decommissioned,honor becameand eligibledistinction forin theOkinawa, CongressionalJapan, GolddurWHEREAS, Medal;after Public Law No:

112-59 was signed by President Barack Obama in 2011, John Thompson, along with the other approximately 20,000 Black service members who had trained at Montford Point in North Carolina between 1942 and WHEREAS,1949 when the camp was decommissioned, became eliWHEREAS, on September 11, 2022, John Thompson was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his dedicated service with the United States Marine Corps during World S War II;

and 1 WHEREAS, following his honorable discharge in 1945, John Thompson devoted 40 years to the 8 1985;

ande Paper Corporation, now WestRock Company, in the company's power plant, retiring in R WHEREAS, in addition to spending time with his family, John Thompson's favorite pastimes 4 included fishing and deer hunting;

and 8 WHEREAS, guided throughout his life by his faith, John Thompson enjoyed worship and fellowship with his community at Mt.

and familyWHEREAS, membersJohn Thompson will always be fondly remembered and friends;dearly missed by numerous famRESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of John Robert Thompson, a cherished member of the West Point community and a pioneering member of the United States Marine Corps whose service to the nation is an inspiration to all Virginians;

now,and, therefore, be itememberedit andpresentation dearlyto missed by numerous RESOLVED, That the Senatefamily of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of John Robert Thompson,Thompson aas cherishedan memberexpression of the WestSenate Point community and a pioneering member of theVirginia's Unitedrespect Statesfor Marinehis Corpsmemory. whose service to the nation is an inspiration to all Virginians;

and, be it 34 RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for 35 presentation to the family of John Robert Thompson as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect 36 for his memory.