Highway memorials

An idea for honoring fallen soldiers from our area has merit and deserves further consideration. State Sen. Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau says he plans to introduce legislation when the Missouri Legislature reconvenes next January that would allow interstate interchanges to be named in honor of military men and women who lose their lives while serving their country.

In June, Ross Gartman, a mortgage loan officer with Bank of Missouri, proposed naming Exit 101 in honor of Cpl. Jeremy Shank of Jackson, who died in September 2006 while serving in Iraq. Gartman served with Sgt. Bradley Skelton of Gordonville, who was killed by an explosion in Baghdad in February. Crowell expanded the idea to honor other area soldiers by putting their names on other interchanges near their hometowns.

Others from this area who would be honored by having interchanges named for them are Staff Sgt. Charles Sanders Jr. of Charleston who died in April 2005 in Afghanistan, Sgt. Robert Davis of Jackson who died in August 2005 in Afghanistan, Spc. Blake Hall of East Prairie who died in August 2005 in Afghanistan and Sgt. Adam Kohlhaas of Perryville who died in April in Iraq.

Crowell's legislation would allow soldiers in other parts of the state to be similarly honored. Names of other soldiers who die while serving could be added to the interchange memorials.

Many stretches of Missouri highways have already been named to honor individuals who have made significant contributions or have been killed in the line of duty, such as highway patrolmen. And Missouri officials have long tolerated makeshift roadside memorials that honor loved ones who have lost their lives in highway accidents. Legislation specifying how these individuals can be honored makes good sense.