State honors Army Sgt. Joseph Collette by naming part of Ohio 158 after him

DUMONTVILLE — Army Sgt. Joseph (Joey) Collette's parents said they were overwhelmed Friday as the state dedicated a portion of Ohio 158 between Ginder Road and Carroll-Eastern Road in their son's honor.

The section is now known as Sgt. Joseph P. Collette Memorial Highway. About 120 people, including some service members who served with Collette, attended a short ceremony in the Dumontville United Methodist Church parking lot.

Collette, a Lancaster native, was killed in March 2019 during a combat mission in Afghanistan's Kunduz province at the age of 29. He was a member of the 242nd Ordnance Battalion, 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group based in Fort Carson, Colorado.

"The support this far after...," Joe Collette said of his son. "I come across people that still remember him. It's overwhelming. Just overwhelming."

Teri Mecionis is Joey Collette's mother.

"This day means so much to us," she said. "It's like Joey will be remembered forever. I can't even really put it into words. It's overwhelming. It's wonderful to see people showing up for Joseph. And when they pass by the street they're going to say his name and they're going to remember him. We're very thankful for this day and the support."

The Ohio Department of Transportation erected a sign a lot across from Dumontville United Methodist Church and another will on Ohio 158 just south of Carroll-Eastern Road.

Ohio Rep. Jeff LaRe, R-Violet Township, introduced a bill last year to honor Collette.

“Sgt. Collette’s family reached out to my office and wanted to create a memorial highway in his honor and I knew I had to help get it done,” he said. “This sign will be a testament to Sgt. Collette’s selfless service to his country.”

Ohio Sen. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, was in attendance representing the state senate. He said it's important to honor the sacrifice of those killed in the line of duty and to also honor their families.

"We all pulled together to do it," Schaffer said. "I was glad to work with our friends at ODOT to put this on and to have a ceremony. We thought it was fitting to have a ceremony for an American hero from Fairfield County who made the ultimate sacrifice."

For his actions, Collette was posthumously promoted to sergeant and awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

Collette last year was memorialized in a downtown mural that was dedicated to military veterans, past and present.

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The mural can be found on the side of the Fairfield County Visitation Center at 227 E. Main St.

The lower right corner of the mural features a set of dog tags recognizing Collette.

jbarron@gannett.com

740-681-4340

Twitter: @JeffDBarron

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: State honors Sgt. Joseph Collette by naming part of Ohio 158 after him