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Stokely’s father helps get bill passed
Published June 1, 2007
ATLANTA — Robert Stokely, father of Loganville fallen soldier Sgt. Michael Stokely, asked for support for HB 131, legislation introduced to allow the widow of fallen Georgia National Guard soldiers to collect their dead husband’s scholarship from the state of Georgia.
His request paid off as Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the bill into law Thursday.
HB 131 — Surviving Spouse HERO Scholarship legislation passed unanimously in both the House and the Senate. Stokely had asked citizens to urge the governor to go ahead and sign it before the bill was signed.
“This is more than giving $2,000 scholarship to a Georgia National Guard widow,” Stokely said. “It is about self respect as a state and a statement as a citizenry that we will back our words with action when our soldiers go and do their duty and when it costs them their life.”
In his petition to the legislature, Stokely quoted the last letter his son had sent home to Niki, his wife of just 10 days before he left for his final tour in Iraq.
Michael Stokely died in Iraq on Aug. 16, 2005 after stepping on an IED.
The last letter home to his wife was dated Aug. 13, 2005. It was read at his funeral.
“I can’t wait to come home and help you finish your education,” the young soldier had written to his wife in that last letter.
“The HERO scholarship will help her do that in his absence, along with the other fallen Georgia National Guard who left surviving spouses,” Stokely said.
Although to date no female Georgia National Guard soldier has lost her life in Iraq, now that the the legislation is law it would cover the husband of any female soldier who might be killed in action in the future.
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