Local Marine Killed in Action to Be Honored

A local Marine killed in combat operations will be honored during Gwinnett County’s annual Memorial Day ceremony.

Lance Cpl. Joseph “Ryan” Giese, who resided in Lawrenceville and later in Winder, was killed in January of this year while on foot patrol in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.

According to the website Freedom Remembered, Giese enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2007. From September of 2008 to April of 2009, he was deployed in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In July of 2010, Giese was deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Giese was days away from ending his deployment when he was killed by the detonation of an improvised-explosive device, or IED.

During his time in the Marine Corps, Giese was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Giese was 24 years old at the time of his death.

Giese’s name will be added to the Global War on Terrorism marker at the Fallen Heroes Memorial located outside the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. The memorial service is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Monday, May 30, and will honor the men and women who have served honorably in the military and will memorialize those who gave their lives while protecting our nation.

This year’s ceremony will be lead by Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash and County Administrator Glenn Stephens. Maj. Gen. Maria Britt, commanding general of the Georgia Army National Guard, will be the keynote speaker. Honor guard units from the Gwinnett County Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Sheriff’s Departments and the Lawrenceville Police Department will also participate.

The Memorial Day Ceremony will be televised at 7:30 p.m. May 30 on TVgwinnett, and will also be available on demand at www.tvgwinnett.com.