Title
To Recognize and Congratulate Sgt. Thomas White for receiving the 2021 Donald R. Hallman LGBTQ Veterans Recognition Award
Body
WHEREAS, Sergeant Thomas White is a 8-year veteran of Ohio National Guard; and
WHEREAS, Sgt. White joined the military out of a sense of service. Soon after enlisting, the United States was attacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001. Tom, trained as an Military Police and was deployed to Ft. McNair in Washington DC, home to some of our most senior leaders; and
WHEREAS, Sgt. White was awarded with an accommodation for participating in dozens of Presidential security details. He served as a recruiting assistant prior to his honorable discharge in 2009; and
WHEREAS, Sgt. White has been very active in many local non-profit boards including with the American Red Cross in Marion, Ohio. He was awarded the Presidential Volunteer Service Award by President Obama in 2010, and
WHEREAS, Tom and his husband Robb were married as part of the CBus of Love event in 2013, where they traveled to DC with 24 other LGBT couples and were married in front of the Supreme Court. Upon returning the next day, they served honorary Grand Marshalls of the Columbus Pride parade; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby express its appreciation for Sgt. Thomas White for his service to this country and the Columbus community. This Council does hereby congratulate him on receiving the 2021 Donald R. Hallman LGBTQ Veterans Recognition Award from Stonewall Columbus.