Clifton Park, NY names street for fallen Iraq War veteran
John J. McKenna IV, a Marine Reservist with the Fox Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment and New York State Trooper was was fatally wounded Aug. 16, 2006 attempting to save the life of another Marine. He awarded the Silver Star posthumously. His hometown, Clifton Park, NY near Albany, still remembers him as they named a street after the 30-year-old hero. From the Albany Times Union;
Flanked by leather-clad members of the American Legion riders of East Greenbush who held flags aloft, the Clifton Park Town Board unveiled the sign for John J. McKenna IV Way Sunday morning before a crowd of about 70 people.
“I believe John and all the other first responders, their spirits are standing by us just a breath away, trying to make the world a better place,” said McKenna’s father, John J. McKenna III, at the small ceremony off Crescent Road near Northway Exit 8.
I know that in The Big Scheme of Things, this is a small gesture, but I’m heartened because I remember the post-Vietnam days and that street would have been named after the city supervisor’s favorite girlfriend in high school before it would have been named for a fallen soldier of that war. I commend Clifton Park for recognizing the folks who have protected their city.
Category: Real Soldiers
Outstanding!
Clifton Park is a nice place too, my son and his wife and kids were on a deployment to the State Farm Call Center in Ballston Spa for several months over the winter and early spring and they had an apartment in Clifton Park.