Guard Renames Armory After Fallen Soldier

MURPHY, NC (08/20/2010)(readMedia)-- The North Carolina National Guard's 210th Military Police Company, Detachment 2, honored one of their fallen Soldiers by renaming the Murphy Armory to the "SSG Bobby C. Franklin" Armory during an afternoon ceremony on Aug. 18.

Franklin, the first North Carolina National Guard Soldier to be killed in action after September 11th, 2001, was a military police officer who deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

Present at the ceremony was his wife, Brenda, his two children Jacob and Holly, and various government and military officials, to include Army Maj. Gen. William E. Ingram, Jr., North Carolina National Guard Adjutant General.

"A National Guard armory is synonymous with community," said Ingram. "Armories are where Soldiers gather to train and deploy. But these buildings are more than that; they are local centers where communities can gather and celebrate."

Every time a citizen or Soldier walks through the armory doors, they will see the name and face of Franklin and will remember the costs of freedom, added Ingram.

"Franklin epitomized the modern-day Citizen-Soldier," said Ingram. "And we've all missed him. This is our way of telling future Soldiers that someone from this city has sacrificed so much for us and the people of Iraq."

A representative for U.S. Sen. Richard Burr read a letter out loud from the state official who could not be present at the ceremony.

"Staff Sgt. Franklin's service and dedication rightly honor his family, his community, his state, and his nation," read Burr's letter. "I am very pleased; it is truly fitting that this facility is named after Franklin."

The 210th MP Company then presented a plaque to Brenda Franklin, and unveiled the new lettering on the armory's wall.

By Spc. Miko Holloran, North Carolina National Guard Public Affairs Office

Posted Friday August 20, 2010 at 04:08 pm by North Carolina National Guard
Last Updated Thursday September 02, 2010 at 11:50 pm