[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 8, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S6434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING TROOPER DAVID SHAWN BLANTON, JR.

  Mr. BURR. Mr. President, I wish to honor the life of North Carolina 
State trooper David Shawn Blanton, Jr., who was tragically killed on 
June 17 during a routine traffic stop near Canton, NC. David is the 
59th North Carolina State trooper to have been killed in the line of 
duty.
  David was only 24 years old and was a 2-year veteran of the North 
Carolina Highway Patrol. He was a native of Sylva, NC, and a 2002 
graduate of Smoky Mountain High School, where he was a football and 
wrestling star.
  We are all grateful for David's dedication to protecting the citizens 
of North Carolina. He lived in Cherokee with his wife Michaela, who had 
just given birth to their son Tye 2 weeks prior to his untimely 
passing.
  David was a member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian Tribe 
and the first member of that tribe to serve with the highway patrol. In 
addition to being a State trooper, David volunteered as the junior 
varsity softball coach at Smoky Mountain High School.
  Along with his wife Michaela and son Tye, David is survived by his 
father David S. Blanton Sr., stepmother Jennifer Blanton, mother 
Jeanell Youngbird, younger brothers, Jerry R. Blankenship, Jim Kye 
Blankenship, Jesse J. Blanton, and sister Natalie E. Blanton.
  David's friends, family, fellow troopers, and the people of North 
Carolina are mourning this very tragic loss.
  I know that there are no words that I can offer to help comfort 
Michaela and other members of the Blanton family, but I hope my 
colleagues in the Senate will join me in keeping them in our thoughts 
and prayers.
  David gave his life in service to our State, and this ultimate 
sacrifice should never be forgotten.
  I send my deepest condolences to all who had the privilege of knowing 
this young man who gave his life in service to our State.

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