December 7, 2009

JEFFERSON CITY — On Monday, December 7th, Senator Jason Crowell, R–Cape Girardeau, and the Missouri Department of Transportation will host a town hall meeting explaining the recently enacted Heroes Way legislation. Special invitees to the meeting will be the families of eligible honorees and they will be presented by Sen. Crowell, signed copies of the legislation.

During the 2009 legislative session, the General Assembly established the "Heroes Way Interstate Interchange Designation Program" to provide relatives of fallen service men and women a way to honor their loved ones. The program allows family members of soldiers killed in action in Afghanistan or Iraq after September 11, 2001, to be memorialized through the naming of their home interstate interchange in honor of that soldier, sailor, or Marine. Each designated interstate interchange will have two commemorative signs with the name of the hero it is named after.

"We can never repay the service men and women or the families of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms we enjoy daily," said Sen. Crowell. "But Heroes Way is one small way to honor and remember those who did not come home for answering the call of service."

The inspiration for Heroes Way came from former Missouri National Guard member Ross Gartman’s desire to honor his friend and comrade Bradley J. Skelton. After Staff Sgt. Skelton of Gordonville was killed by an explosion in Baghdad on Feb. 6, 2008, community leaders approached Sen. Crowell to help find a way to honor these local fallen heroes. The General Assembly and the Department of Transportation then worked to develop this program to provide communities throughout Missouri an opportunity to remember those that were killed in action.

In order to receive this recognition, family members must submit the name to the Missouri Department of Transportation and then have sponsorship from a member of the General Assembly. Monday’s meeting is to walk families in Southeast Missouri through the submission process to MoDOT of having their loved one honored through Heroes Way designation and to answer questions community members might have to make sure each fallen hero is never forgotten.