CHILLICOTHE — For over 70 years the Ohio General Assembly has passed legislation that has designated portions of state highways as memorial highways. So far over 200 memorial highways have been designated in the state, 13 of which are located in Ross County.
These designations are marked by Ohio Department of Transportation signs along the roadway. Often those memorialized are military personnel but designations can be given to any person or group that is considered significant to the area.
The Great Seal Memorial Highway is marked on two roads, U.S. Route 35 and U.S. Route 23, the roads were dedicated on Sept. 28, 1973, and are some of the oldest sections dedicated in Ross County. The name comes from the view in Ross County that helped inspire the Great Seal of the State of Ohio.
Other sections of roads dedicated at the same time include the United Spanish War Veterans Memorial Highway, George Washington Highway, General Duncan McArthur Highway and the Old Zane Trace Memorial Highway.
The most recent section of road memorialized is the SGT Michael Keith Hamner Memorial Highway along U.S. Route 23 which was dedicated in June of 2020. Hamner was a Ross County veteran who fought and was killed in the Vietnam War. While serving he earned the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge and more.
The remaining dedicated road portions in Ross County include the Camp Sherman Memorial Highway, Deputy Lawrence Barnes Memorial Bridge, Lance Cpl. Aaron Reed Memorial Highway, Army Specialist Gavin Colburn Memorial Highway, Air Force Master Sergeant Brad Clemmons Memorial Highway and the Staff Sergeant Joshua Gire Memorial Highway.
Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter@Shelby_Reeves_
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