Monday, September 17, 2012
The 133rd Military Police Company, which lost three soldiers in June, returned to Florence Sunday.
FLORENCE — A cheering crowd welcomed home members of the 133rd Military Police Company Sunday at Veterans Park in Florence. The S.C. National Guard unit deployed 170 soldiers to Afghanistan in November 2011. Seven months later, the unit lost three men in a suicide bomb attack. Five others were injured. Two of the men who died, Lt. Ryan Rawl and Sgt. J.D. Meador, were from Lexington. Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas of Easley also died in the attack. “Our five are still healing,” company commander Capt. David Bryant told the crowd, according to a report in The State. “And our three, who gave everything they had … May we live the rest of our lives honoring them in everything we do.” A memorial service to honor Rawl, Meador, Thomas and …
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Lexington businesses are showing their support for the families of 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl and Sgt. John David Meador who both died in Afghanistan last week.
Businesses around town are displaying messages of support for the families of 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl and Sgt. John Meador who died in Afghanistan last week. Lexington Mayor and Chamber President Randy Halfacre asked businesses last week to honor the soldiers with messages of support on their marquees. Rawl's funeral procession Saturday morning will pass by many of the businesses who put up messages and flags. Residents will also be lining the streets with flags and banners. Meador's funeral procession will be from the Caughman-Harman Funeral Home St. Andrews Chapel on Bush River Road to Seacoast Church on St. Andrews Road. See also:
Friday, June 29, 2012
Lexington resident Albert Jabs explains why he disagrees with Westboro Baptist Church's plans to protest at the funerals of two Midlands soldiers Saturday.
As a former American soldier (Korean War Period), professor of history/government, missionary, and Lutheran Lay leader, I must dissent from the plans and perspective of my Westboro brethren in their misguided protest of the Midlands soldiers' funerals. Why must I dissent? Essentially, the total Scripture message has to do with love of God and love of the neighbor. This has to do with respect, dignity, and honor for their specific calling, serving as soldiers, in this blessed land of America, in which Sgt. John Meador, Lt. Ryan Davis Rawl, and Sgt. Matthew Thomas gave the supreme sacrifice. They are our brothers who have fallen in defense of their country. Paradoxically, in their supreme sacrifices, and in the sacrifices of others, like …
People will be standing along the funeral procession routes Saturday in honor of 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl and Sgt. John David Meador.
Midlands residents will line the streets Saturday for the funeral processions of two S.C. National Guardsmen who were killed in Afghanistan last week. 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl's funeral will be at 10 a.m. at Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church. Sunset Boulevard between Northwood Road and Old Cherokee Road will close at 9 a.m. for an hour-long procession from Barr-Price Funeral Home to the church. Motorists can expect delays on Sunset Boulevard, North Lake Drive and South Lake Drive during that hour. Rawl, who was also a deputy with the Richland County Sheriff's Department, will be honored by his fellow deputies. "As a deputy, Rawl was willing to stand up to protect and serve. It was with that same pride he did so in his military uniform," Sheriff …
33.99707
-81.22168
Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church
5503 Sunset Blvd, Lexington, SC
/articles/hundreds-to-gather-in-honor-of-fallen-soldiers
1941031
/locations/7346836
33.99221
-81.23362
Barr-Price Funeral Home & Crematorium
609 Northwood Rd, Lexington, SC
/articles/hundreds-to-gather-in-honor-of-fallen-soldiers
1941230
/locations/7346837
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Services for 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl and Spc. John David Meador II will be held Saturday at two Columbia-area churches.
Funeral services for two South Carolina National Guardsmen who were killed last week in a suicide bombing attack in Afghanistan will be held Saturday. The service for 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl will be at 10 a.m. at Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church in Lexington. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Barr-Price Funeral Home. Spc. John David Meador's funeral will take place at 10 a.m. at Seacoast Church on St. Andrews Road. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home's Irmo/St. Andrews Chapel. Community members are planning to line the streets with flags and banners for the funeral processions Saturday, according to a Facebook page called "Stand Up for a Fallen Hero." A post on the page Wednesday said …
33.99707
-81.22168
Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church
5503 Sunset Blvd, Lexington, SC
/articles/funeral-services-for-national-guardsmen-set-for-saturday
1941031
/locations/7336534
33.99221
-81.23362
Barr-Price Funeral Home & Crematorium
609 Northwood Rd, Lexington, SC
/articles/funeral-services-for-national-guardsmen-set-for-saturday
1941230
/locations/7336535
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Spc. John David Meador and 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl, both former wrestlers at Lexington High School, died Wednesday in a bombing in Afghanistan.
Ryan Rawl and John Meador gave their all on the wrestling mat — training in the same room. Wednesday, the two men gave their lives for their country — fighting in the same military company. The two former Lexington High School wrestlers, who were both deployed to Afghanistan with the South Carolina National Guard, died when a suicide bomber attacked their patrol. Another South Carolina soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas of Easley, also died in the attack. Five others were injured. Apart from wrestling and the military, Meador and Rawl had something else in common: they both cared about people. Rawl was a Richland County Sheriff's deputy and a resource officer at Crayton Middle School. Meador spent time coaching wrestling at …
33.979421
-81.307894
Lexington High School
2463 Augusta Hwy, Lexington, SC
/articles/friends-remember-fallen-soldiers-as-men-who-cared-about-others
1941607
/locations/7308452
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Lexington High School graduate Spc. John David Meador II, 36, of Columbia was among three soldiers killed in Khost City, Khost Province, Afghanistan, when his patrol was attacked by a suicide bomber.
The identity of a second Columbia guardsman killed in Afghanistan was released Thursday afternoon by the South Carolina Army National Guard. Spc. John David "JD" Meador II, 36, of Columbia was killed in Khost City, Khost Province, Afghanistan, when his patrol was attacked by a suicide bomber. According to Meador's Facebook page, he is a 1994 graduate of Lexington High School and is the owner of Southeast Woodworks. In addition to Meador, 1st. Lt. Ryan Rawl, a deputy with Richland County Sheriff's Office, and Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Thomas of Easley were killed in the attack. "These men died serving their country and I want to expresses my deepest sympathy and condolences to their families, who are the unsung heroes of our war effort," said …
Energy Guy
7:53 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
"Fair Winds and Following Seas" more ›