HANCOCK COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -
On this Veterans Day, a local company honored a local fallen soldier on the 236th birthday of the United States Marine Corps.
Selex Galileo dedicated it's newest building to First Lieutenant William Donnelly, IV. Donnelly, a Marine, was raised in Picayune and died last year in combat on Thanksgiving Day.
Family and friends of Lt. Donnelly watched with emotion as the Selex Galileo was unveiled in honor of him. The company's CEO is Giles Kyser. "Today is the day when we get to dedicate a facility to the legacy of honor courage and commitment provided to us by a great Marine and a great Marine family," said Kyser.
"Because it is the 236th birthday of our Marine Corps, I can't think of a better way to remember that day by honoring a fellow Marine and his family."
Donnelly was a rifle platoon commander for the Third Battalion, 5th Marines.
Fourth District Congressman Steven Palazzo attended the emotional ceremony. He told the crowd, "On November 25th, Thanksgiving Day 2010. Lt. Donnelly answered his country's highest calling when he laid down his life while leading Marines during combat operations in Afghanistan."
The building that now bears his name is a Security Assistance Support Center located at Stennis International Air Park. The company produces and installs electronic equipment for airplanes. The new building will be used for training military special forces.
"The building has the capability to run both classified and un-classified computer networks up to 120 different drops." explained Kyser.
Family members said Donnelly would have been proud. "I'm just tickled to death that God in his own way is honoring Will in a way that Will could never have been honored when he was alive" William Donnelly, III said.
During the ceremony, Donnelly's widow was presented military commendations for her husband. They were married just two weeks before he was deployed.
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