Proposed Bill Honors Local Soldier

Last week The Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 269.

This bill would name a two-mile section of Route 60 from its intersection with Main Street in Dresden to its connection with Route 16 in honor of Sgt. Bradley J. Harper. Sgt. Harper was born here in Zanesville and later enlisted in the US Marine Corps Reserves in 1998. He was killed in action on August 3, 2005 during a combat operation in southern Iraq. State Representative Adam Holmes detailed some of the ways the community has kept Sgt. Harper’s memory alive.

“He was an integral part of this community,” Holmes said. “There have been a lot of things done to remember him. There’s a 5K memorial run and of course Memorial Day and Veterans Day, but we thought this was a perfect tribute to him for his sacrifice.”

Holmes said he’s been working closely with Harper’s parents during this process.

“This has been so emotional but in the most positive way,” Holmes said. “We said in session that good things endure forever. Sgt. Harper was a football player for the Tri-Valley Dawgs and he is buried next to the field. This will serve as a permanent reminder for all of us to think about the positive things he did and he’ll always be a part of us.”

House Bill 269 is headed to the Senate for further consideration, a vote could happen sometime this spring.