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(Washington, D.C.) Fourth District Rep. Mike Ross Tuesday met
with Sgt. Marquette Whiteside, a 24 year-old Pine Bluff native currently
serving in Iraq who is being honored by President Bush during his State
of the Union address tonight. Whiteside was one of the three soldiers recently
featured on the cover of Time Magazine’s 2003 Person of the Year issue
honoring, “The American Soldier.”
“I am honored to represent this fine soldier, and to have the opportunity
to meet with him on his brief return to the United States,” said Ross.
“To see one of our own local hero’s featured on the cover of Time Magazine’s
‘Person of the Year’ issue really hits home, and demonstrates the magnitude
of the post-9/11 era.”
President Bush will recognize Sgt. Whiteside, as well as the other two
soldiers who were also featured on the Time Magazine cover, as he addresses
the nation on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives tonight.
Sgt. Whiteside is a member of Survey Platoon, Headquarters Battery,
2nd Battalion in the 1st Armored’s 3rd Field Artillery Regiment.
Although he was scheduled to be relieved of duty in early 2004, Sgt. Whiteside
signed on for an additional three years with the Army.
“Sgt. Whiteside is a man who has dedicated himself to protecting his
country in the noblest sense. Not only a soldier, Sgt. Whiteside is also
a son, a brother, and a father. My thoughts and prayers are with
his family as they anxiously await his safe and permanent return home.”
A graduate of Watson Chapel High School in Pine Bluff, Sgt. Whiteside’s
six year-old daughter, Brashawn, and his mother, Catherine, reside in Pine
Bluff. |
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