GRIFFIN, GA - Hundreds of people lined the streets of Griffin on Tuesday to honor the sacrifice of 20-year-old U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Christopher Blake Rodgers.

Blake, as his family and friends knew him, died of combat wounds suffered in Afghanistan last Wednesday.

His combat tour, which began last March, was to have ended in two weeks.

Among those saluting the motorcade escorting Rodgers' body home was a former high school classmate, U.S. Army Private First Class Andrew Roberson.

He is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan in December.

"It makes you think about the impression that I'm gonna leave whenever I do go over there, if something happens," Roberson said.

Blake Rodgers joined the Marines a few months after graduating from high school in 2008.

But his uncle says Blake committed to serve his country at a much younger age.

Atlanta, GA (AP)-- Republican gubernatorial hopeful Nathan Deal is backpedaling on casinos after at least one prominent Christian
conservative activist called to voice concerns.
Deal created a stir when he said earlier this month that he was
willing to keep an "open mind" about the possibility of casinos
in Georgia. This week, Deal spokesman Brian Robinson said the
former congressman from Gainesville "personally opposes casino
gambling" and doesn't believe they're the best way to spur the
state's economy. Robinson wouldn't say whether Deal would sign a
veto a casino bill if one landed on his desk.
The campaign of Deal's opponent, Democrat Roy Barnes, said
Deal's waffling shows he "is too unsteady for the job" of
governor.
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Online:
Roy Barnes for Governor: www.roy2010.com
Nathan Deal for Governor: www.nathandeal.org