[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15154]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       LEXINGTON COUNTY IS FIRST

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                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 13, 2012

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, the following article was 
published recognizing the leadership of Lexington County, South 
Carolina, as a Purple Heart County in the Lexington County Chronicle on 
September 20, 2012:

               Lexington Is the First Purple Heart County

       Lexington County became the first in the state to be 
     designated as a Purple Heart County.
       A resolution was read before Lexington County Council, 
     Sept. 11, that named Lexington a Purple Heart County.
       ``It's a recognition and a show of support for not only 
     Purple Heart recipients, but for veterans and all of those 
     who served,'' said Stan Thornburgh.
       Thornburgh, of Lexington, is a past commander of the Col. 
     Charles Murray Memorial Chapter of the Military Order of the 
     Purple Heart. The chapter is based in Columbia, but many of 
     its members live in Lexington County.
       Thornburgh received the Purple Heart after being wounded in 
     Vietnam in 1969.
       Purple Heart recipients are military personnel wounded as a 
     direct result of enemy action.
       Councilman Bobby ``Gravedigger'' Keisler sponsored the 
     resolution to designate Lexington County as a Purple Heart 
     county.
       ``It is important to support veterans and the people who 
     served our country,'' Keisler said. He said James Miller 
     asked him to sponsor the Purple Heart designation. Miller, of 
     South Congaree, is the state commander of the Military Order 
     of the Purple Heart. Miller lives in Keisler's district.
       ``It's an honor to do it,'' said Keisler, who served a six-
     year stint in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era.
       John B. Testruth is the Adjutant of Chapter 402. The 
     chapter is the largest of the 13 in South Carolina. It has 
     298 members. Testruth said the Purple Heart Chapter also 
     raises funds to donate to causes for veterans. He also said 
     the county is supportive of veterans in general.
       ``Lexington is a very patriotic county,'' Thornburgh said. 
     ``People are supportive and appreciate those who served.''

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