Veteran honored

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Local State Senator Phil Pavlov and various leaders in the veteran community will honor the family of Staff Sargent Scott Lawson this Veterans Day by awarding them The Michigan National Guard's Distinguished Service Medal. Staff Sargent Scott Lawson served in the United States Army Infantry for eight years from 1997 to 2005 and had been deployed to Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq during combat operations. Lawson lost his life in a ATV accident on July 2013. Scott Lawson is the first Army soldier to be awarded The Michigan National Guard's Distinguished Service Medal since September 11, 2001 and the first Army soldier to be given this distinction since the Vietnam War. His parents will receive the award in his honor. During his time in the military Lawson was lauded for many acts of valor and his unit's story was the cover story for Time Magazine in November 2004. The Michigan National Guard Distinguished Service Medal is one of the highest decorations given to a state resident for combat valor. The ceremony will be held on Wednesday, November 11th at 4:00pm, at the Hillside Cemetary, 411 Trumbull Street, St. Clair, Michigan.