State Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) yesterday attended Governor Kasich’s signing of Substitute House Bill 325, legislation that designates 38 memorial highways and authorizes the director of the Department of Transportation to erect markers along each highway to indicate its name.

According to the bill, a portion of State Route 47 near Ansonia in Darke County will be known as the “Pfc. Douglas E. Dickey Memorial Highway.” Private First Class Douglas Eugene Dickey was a U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism during Operation Beacon Hill 1 while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade, 3rd Marine Division.

Born in Greenville in 1946, Pfc. Dickey was mortally wounded in March 1967 while in combat in Beacon Hill 1. He has received the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart with two Gold Stars, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Star, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

“It has been an honor to work with local veterans and the Dickey family while navigating the legislative process to have this memorial highway named for Darke County’s only Medal of Honor recipient since the Civil War,” Buchy said. “Douglas Dickey’s sacrifice and bravery in service to protect freedom has been justly commemorated today.”

Members of the Douglas E. Dickey family joined Representative Buchy at the bill signing. Sub. House Bill 325 received unanimous support in both the House and Senate.