Kaptur, others introduce legislation to rename US 20 for Medal of Honor recipients

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) joined Representatives Mike Kelly (PA-16), and Brian Higgins (NY-26), and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Mike Crapo (R-ID), to introduce legislation in the House and Senate designating U.S. 20 between Newport, Oregon and Boston, Massachusetts as the “National Medal of Honor Highway.”

This stretch of U.S. 20 passes through Northern Ohio and towns and cities in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District including Pioneer, Fayette, Toledo, Maumee, Perrysburg, Woodville, Fremont, and Clyde. In all, U.S. 20 stretches across 260 miles in Ohio.

“Renaming U.S. Route 20 as the National Medal of Honor Highway is an important step to recognize and memorialize the contribution of those who have earned the highest honor our armed forces have to offer,” Kaptur said in a news release. “I was proud to support this effort last fall at the state level in Ohio. Now, it is an honor to help introduce legislation to advance this initiative at the federal level. Three hundred thirty-one Ohioans have been awarded the Medal of Honor, several hail from communities along U.S. Route 20. With this bill’s passage, I know Northern Ohio — from Williams to Ashtabula County — will join the nation in paying tribute to the valor of its Medal of Honor recipients.”

US 20 stretches across more than 3,000 miles

“Covering more than 3,000 miles, U.S. Route 20 is America’s longest highway. By designating U.S. Route 20 as the ‘National Medal of Honor Highway,’ we commemorate all 3,515 recipients of the award, both living and passed,” Kelly said in the news release. “It’s my sincere hope that the millions of Americans who travel the highway each year – from Bend to Chicago to Erie to Boston — will take a moment to reflect on the extraordinary sacrifice, courage, and devotion exhibited by every single Medal of Honor recipient. We owe them a debt we can never repay. Designating this highway is just one way and we can cement their legacy in American history.”

“Stretching 372 miles, US Route 20 is New York State’s longest highway, in addition to the longest highway in our nation,” said Higgins. “Designating Route 20, which includes a portion of Transit Road in Erie County, as the National Medal of Honor Highway recognizes our nation’s bravest veterans, including those from New York State. We cannot forget the courageous sacrifices that Medal of Honor recipients have made for our country and dedicating our longest highway in their honor will preserve their legacy for generations to come.”

“I’m proud to have worked closely with veterans in Oregon and nationwide in the grassroots movement to designate America’s longest continuous highway — which spans from the Pacific to the Atlantic – as the ‘National Medal of Honor Highway,’” said Sen. Wyden. “Designating U.S. Highway 20 as the ‘National Medal of Honor Highway’ would provide a permanent and deserved recognition of America’s heroes, and I’ll keep fighting tooth and nail alongside veterans to drive this bill past the finish line.”

“Our nation’s Medal of Honor recipients represent the bravest among us,” said Sen. Crapo. “Their selflessness, sacrifice and sense of duty should be recognized and celebrated.  I am proud to support the designation of the National Medal of Honor Highway, which traverses Idaho and stretches across our great nation from coast to coast.”

The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award for valor, presented by the president in Congress’ name. U.S. service members who distinguish themselves “through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty” can receive the medal.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Kaptur, legislators propose renaming US 20 nationwide