A measure to name bridges after two Warren County natives, one who gave his life in the line of duty during Vietnam and one who almost did in Iraq, was put on hold Monday night when it was brought up for full Warren County Commission consideration.
The recommendation to name the bridges after the two men came from the county’s Highway and Bridge Committee. Its chairman, Commissioner Gary Prater, requested the measure be pulled from the docket.
“I would like to amend the docket and remove the resolution item No. 1,” said Prater. “I would like to withdraw that for right now, if I could.”
It was pulled from consideration by a unanimous vote, 24-0. No reason for the request was given during the meeting.
Put on hold was:
Naming the bridge closest to 287, also known as Green Hill Road, after Joe Delong. Delong left his Irving College community for Vietnam in 1967 and never came back. According to the U.S. Army, his death followed enemy capture, imprisonment and escape, but his remains have never been located. Based on accounts told by prisoners of war held with Delong, the incident occurred Nov. 8, 1967.
Naming the bridge closest to Spring Valley Road after Eric Frazier. Frazier left his Warren County home in August 2006 for basic training. He returned in March 2007 severely injured when a Humvee he and three other Marines were riding in rolled over an improvised explosive device. Frazier lost both legs, in addition to a number of other critical injuries, and almost lost his life. His injuries were sustained on Oct. 23, just 27 days after his arrival in Iraq at the age of 20.
If the resolutions pass, they will be sent to the Tennessee General Assembly for its consideration due to the bridges being a state route.