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| Sacrifices, duty of military veterans Toy, Sizemore honored |
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10/31/2014
Special to the Advocate
State and local officials gathered Tuesday in Montgomery County for a ceremony to rename roads in honor of a Pearl Harbor survivor who has dedicated his life to service, and in memory of a soldier who lost his life in Iraq, making the ultimate sacrifice.
During the ceremony, which took place at the Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County Airport, state officials also took part in a ribbon-cutting for the airport’s new administration building.
Roads re-named
A portion of Ky. 2346 was renamed the “Pearl Harbor Survivor SSG John C. Toy Highway” in honor of U.S. Army veteran John C. Toy.
Toy, 96, joined the Army in June 1941 and was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Honolulu, in the anti-aircraft division. While at Schofield, Toy survived the bombing of Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1945, a release said.
Since returning to Montgomery County, Toy has remained active in the community over the years. He has taught Sunday School at the First Church of God, served on the Mt. Sterling Swimming Pool Park board, is a member and past commander of American Legion Post 22 and is current president of the Kentucky Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.
In addition to the renaming of Ky. 2346, a portion of Ky. 60 from Mt. Sterling to Interstate 64 Exit 101 was named the “Staff Sergeant Garth Sizemore Memorial Highway” in memory of a soldier killed in Iraq.
Sizemore, a Montgomery County High School graduate and Morehead State University student, joined the Army in 1999. He was killed Oct. 17, 2006, while serving in Baghdad, Iraq, when his patrol came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire during combat operations.
“Kentucky is a national leader in recognizing our fallen heroes in a way that reaches so many people every day,” said Heather French Henry, commissioner of the Kentucky Dept. of Veterans Affairs (KDVA), who was representing Gov. Steve Beshear at the event. “We are grateful for the many ways the Transportation Cabinet works with KDVA to honor our veterans.”
“They’re heroes, and we know they’re heroes, but we need to remember why they’re heroes,” said state Sen. R.J. Palmer, of Winchester. “Naming roads after people who have not only served their country but this state, is a great way of recognizing their service and sacrifice. I’m very pleased we are recognizing their extraordinary bravery by naming the roads in their honor. This is a fitting tribute and will ensure that their names and all they did for their country will be remembered for years to come.”
“These men have served our community and our country with distinction, and I am deeply honored we could play a role in recognizing these true heroes,” said state Rep. Richard Henderson, of Mt. Sterling, who filed legislation this year to rename Ky. 2346 in honor of Toy. “This will help make sure the memory of their sacrifice is never forgotten.”
The families and friends of both men attended the ceremony.
Ribbon cutting
While at the Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County Airport, officials took part in a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the airport’s new administration building and other improvements.
An administration building expansion was completed in February with the aid of $180,000 in funding from KYTC. The expansion was necessary to better serve the increase in the number of public visitors and air traffic into the Mt. Sterling area, a release said.
Over the last four years, KYTC also provided $560,000 in funding for two other projects at the airport – $400,000 toward an apron expansion in 2010 and $160,000 toward an automated weather observation system in 2012. The apron expansion allows more space in which to safely park aircraft. The weather system advises pilots of weather conditions at the airport.
“An airport is the gateway for business opportunity in every community. The terminal renovation, the apron expansion and the on-site weather system projects are testimony to the leadership and vision of the airport board to maintain and keep this gateway open for business,” said Kentucky Dept. of Aviation Commissioner Winn Turney.
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