Tennessee Fallen Soldier Remembered and Recognized in North Carolina
Thursday, April 19, 2012 | 07:00am
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder posthumously awarded the Tennessee Fallen Heroes Medal to Captain Joshua Sean Lawrence of Nashville today. The medal was presented to Captain Lawrence’s widow, Brittany Lawrence at her workplace, Nationwide Marketing Group in Winston Salem, North Carolina.
Captain Lawrence was killed on October 8, 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan while serving his country in Operation Enduring Freedom. The assistant plans officer was stationed with Headquarters troop, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
Lawrence graduated from Hume-Fogg High School in 2001 and was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at Austin-Peay University where he studied until he enlisted in the United States Army in 2005.
The Nashville native served two tours in Korea before he returned home to marry Brittany Harris on May 31, 2011. The 29-year old officer deployed to Afghanistan seven days later.
“I join Tennesseans in remembering the service and ultimate sacrifice of Captain Joshua Lawrence,” Grinder said. “We also want to recognize the sacrifice of Captain Lawrence’s family and extend our condolences as well as our commitment to continue to remember our fallen Tennessee heroes.”
Lawrence has also been posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the NATO Combat Action Badge.
Captain Lawrence is also survived by his mother Judy Norman Lawrence, his sister Major Kendra Lawrence, his brother Zachary Lawrence and grandparents Glespie and Arthenia Norman.
The Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs is committed to serving veterans and their families with dignity and compassion. TDVA is committed to be an advocate for veterans to ensure they receive the care, support, earned entitlements and recognition they earned in service to our country. For more information, visit the department’s website at www.tn.gov/veteran, facebook/myTDVA or stay up to date by following the department on twitter @TNDVA.
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