Markus holds the dinstinction of being Springfield's first resident to sacrifice his life in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and in our country's War on Terrorism. He was assigned to the 3rd Air Defense Artillery, 1st Infantry Division of the Army, based in Kitzingen, Germany and died while serving in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. He was awarded seven medals, including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Like many of our young citizens of Springfield, Markus dreamed of pursuing a college education. In his honor, the Johnson family has established a memorial scholarship fund. Just as Markus was known for his ability to bring a smile to the face of anyone he met, the goal of his memorial fund will be to give students seeking higher education something to smile about. The Markus Fund will award annual scholarships to high school graduates of the Springfield Public Schools in amounts to be determined. The Markus Fund will also sponsor programs and activities designed to promote the pursuit of higher education. On numerous occasions since Markus' death, concerned citizens like yourself have inquired about ways they could assist the Johnson family in our time of loss. One way you can help our family and our community is to help us keep the memory of this extraordinary young man alive, by contributing to the Markus Fund. Your contribution will help send a number of deserving young persons to college.