Today my walk was dedicated in honor of:
Marine LCPL Joshua L. Torrence, Age 20 of Lexington, SC.
KIA Mar. 14, 2005 Operation Iraqi Freedom
He was assigned to 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Lance Cpl. Joshua L. Torrence of Lexington, South Carolina was a leader who lived life with a purpose. He graduated from White Knoll in 2003 where he played on the first ever White Knoll football team in 2000. He was a leader on and off the field. Josh joined the Marines in January 2004. He had written to a friend to describe his joy at being a Marine. “For those who fight for it, freedom has a special flavor those protected will never know,” he wrote. Growing up, he loved being a Civil War re-enactor and dreamed of someday serving in the military. So it seemed only fitting that a military jeep towed his casket into the cemetery while a half-dozen soldiers dressed in Civil War uniforms escorted him to his final resting place. The old mixed with the new throughout the ceremony. A platoon of re-enactors and U.S. Marines fired successive volleys in his honor, while his father dressed in a Civil War-era U.S. officer uniform to honor his son. The two had participated in re-enactments of the war for the past decade. The ceremony began with re-enactors from the 3rd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry slowly marching the coffin into the church. It ended with a Marine presenting Torrence’s mother with the U.S. flag that had been draped over her son’s casket. Josh is the second member of the military from Lexington to die in Iraq.
We had a great 5.26 Mile walk. We stopped by the War Memorial Park down town. The rain held off for our walk. I want to thank my friend Robert for walking with us. I want to thank all who honked, waved, and saluted in helping me honor this hero this morning.
Marine LCPL Joshua L. Torrence will not be forgotten !
