FORMER Weymouth youngster Ritchie Bennett has graduated from the US Marine Corps as a Private First Class.

Ritchie, 19, handed over a scholarship award in memory of his late sister, Lucie Bennett, 14, soon after passing out from the crack corps.

Lucie suffered from the rare neurological disorder Batten disease but died from an unrelated stomach problem last August.

Their dad Ricky worked for DEK International printing company on Weymouth’s Granby Industrial Estate before relocating his family to the company’s office in New Jersey. He set up the scholarship fund and a memorial garden in her memory.

He said the Lucie Bennett Memorial Scholarship was associated with Lucie’s high school in America to encourage students to enter into a career in special needs education.

Lucie’s memorial garden features a Ginkgo tree, which Mr Bennett said is the tree of life, a special ornament of Tinkerbell holding her birthstone and a butterfly bench seat painted in the same colours as Tinkerbell.

He said: “They are all of her favourite things. This is where I can connect with Lucie. She was so, so special to me.

“In memory of what Lucie brought to people, the scholarship should inspire the younger generation to enter in the field of special needs. She will live on.

“Her life is a great story of courage, strength and endurance of a 14-year-old girl and her family.”

Mr Bennett added: “We held the Lucie Bennett Memorial Scholarship presentation and awarded $8,000 to a student entering in the field of special education teaching. Ritchie presented the award in his dress uniform. It was a very emotional evening.”

As well as passing ‘one of the toughest training courses there is’, Ritchie was also awarded a sharp shooter medal.

He finished his training by passing the Crucible test – 54 hours of non-stop action and testing with very little sleep.