State Representative Courtney Combs (R-Hamilton) has announced the passage of House Bill 65, legislation that incorporates 13 memorial highways in honor of heroic Ohioans.

House Bill 65 designates the following highways:
• A section of State Route 4 within the municipal corporation of Fairfield as the "Lance Corporal Taylor Prazynski Memorial Highway"
• A section of US Route 50 within Highland County as the "Pfc. Zachary Gullett Memorial Highway"
• A section of US Route number 50 within Vinton County as the "Ryan Seitz Memorial Highway"
• A section of State Route 73 within Clinton County as the "Sgt. Steven Conover - Veterans Memorial Highway"
• A section of State Route 729 within Clinton County as the "Lance Cpl. Brett Wightman - Veterans Memorial Highway"
• A section of State Route 7 within Washington County as the "First Lt. Christopher Rutherford Memorial Highway”
• A section of State Route 619 within the municipal corporation of Hartville in Stark County as the "Sgt. 1st Class Daniel B. Crabtree Memorial Road"
• A section of State Route 103 within Wyandot County as the "Trooper Andrew C. Baldridge Memorial Highway"
• A section of US Route 62 within Knox County as the "Army Staff Sgt. Shamus O. Goare Memorial Highway"
• A section of US Route 20 within Huron County as the "Army Private Jason L. Sparks Memorial Highway”
• Sections of Routes 145 and 163 within the municipal corporation of Oak Harbor in Ottawa County only as the "Army Sgt. Keith Kline Memorial Highway”
• A section of US Route 20 within Sandusky County as the "Army Sgt. Jon Martin Memorial Highway”
• A section of State Route 4 within the municipal corporation of Fairfield as the "Lance Corporal Taylor Prazynski Memorial Highway”
• A section of Interstate 480 located within the municipal corporation of Garfield Heights in Cuyahoga County as the "Corporal Brad Anthony Davis Memorial Highway”

The legislation also authorizes the Director of Transportation to erect suitable markers along the highways indicating their names. It was amended to include House Bills 23, 42, 57, 59, 75, 83, 91 and 117. Rep. Rex Damschroder (R-Fremont) also amended the bill to name two roads in his district after two veterans who were killed in the war in Iraq.

"It was an honor for me to carry the bill that honors Taylor Bradley Prazynski, who joined the marines not long after graduating from Fairfield High School in 2003,” said Combs, who serves as chairman of the Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. “Taylor joined the Marines because he wanted to make a difference. He knew the people of Iraq needed his help as a marine, and so without question, he headed there to lend a helping hand to the mission of bringing peace to them.

“On May 9th, 2005, Taylor was killed while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Karmah, Iraq. He will be remembered as a hero by all his family and friends for his deeds in life. To help keep his memory alive I proposed House Bill 65 which would name a stretch of highway on State Route 4 in the City of Fairfield after Lance Corporal Taylor Prazynski. This is but a small token of appreciation we can do to remember Taylor for his service to his community and country.”

House Bill 65 passed with unanimous support and will now undergo further consideration in the Ohio Senate.