Hometown hero Brandon Rowe honored with freeway dedication

ROSCOE, Sick. (WIFR) – One Roscoe hero will get a freeway devoted to him virtually 20 years after his loss of life.

A graduate of Hononegah Excessive College Class of 2000, Brandon Rowe was an SPC within the U.S. Military, the place he served his nation for nearly 4 years. Row as a part of C Firm, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment and the one hundred and first Airborn Division.

Rowe was killed in Iraq whereas serving his nation on March 31, 2003. Saturday morning, Rowe acquired a part of Hwy 251 devoted to him, which is able to now be often known as the “SPC Brandon Jacob Rowe Memorial Freeway.”

“The group itself actually wanted this to occur as a result of Brandon’s been gone for about 20 years now. We’re glad we have been in a position to pull this off in the present day,” says Roscoe VFW Submit #2955 Senior Vice Commander Invoice Graves.

Whereas Graves didn’t personally know Brandon, his daughter went to Hononegah with Rowe.

“Brandon’s identify’s going to be up on that street for the subsequent 20-30 years and I’m gonna be actual pleased when my grandson asks me who’s Brandon Rowe. I’ll have the ability to inform him who that individual is,” says Graves.

Greater than 150 individuals attended the ceremony to honor certainly one of their very own. Among the many crowd have been highschool buddies Lucas Bondow, Nathan Sharp and Michael Brady. They describe their good friend as a constructive individual however his buddies say his humor was Rowe’s strongest high quality.

“He was type of the brightest star amongst all of us. He was so optimistic so humorous, he made us all chortle continually. I don’t assume there was one time with Brandon the place he was simply making us roll on the ground laughing,” says Bondow.

Rowe’s buddies say it was a privilege attending to know Brandon, who they know will all the time be with them.

“Simply holding in contact with one another. That’s what Brandon would have needed. Simply all of us collectively hanging out,” says Sharp.

“I don’t assume there’s a day that’s passed by that we haven’t considered him. We’re simply all very grateful and honored to be his good friend. We love him and miss him,” says Brady.

Brady says he’s grateful to get the group again collectively to witness the ceremony together with once they heard Brandon’s voice whereas listening to Rowe’s letter to his mother.

The ceremony additionally included letters from some congressmen, together with Sen. Tammy Duckworth and State Sen. Dave Syverson.

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