OKLAHOMA CITY (KFSM) -- A bill that would commemorate several military veterans on Oklahoma highways has been approved by the state House of Representatives.
The house voted in favor of House Bill 2268 by a margin of 92-1.
Authored by State Representative Mike Sanders (R-Kingfisher), the bill was intended to recognize a portion of Highway 81 in Canadian County as "President Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Highway."
State Representative John Bennett (R-Sequoyah) issued an amendment requesting that a portion of U.S. Highway 64 be designated as the "MSG Joshua Wheeler, U.S. Army Delta Force, Memorial Highway."
The section of highway would begin at the junction of U.S. Highway 64 and State Highway 64B in Sequoyah County and extend east to the junction of U.S. Highway 64 and County Road N4760 in Sequoyah County.
Wheeler's brother, Zack, said the three-mile stretch of highway will remind future generations of his brother's service.
"My son will see it, his sons will see it and then it'll go on from my son's generation and his kids will always see who their uncle was," Zack said.
Bennett released the following statement to 5NEWS on Wednesday (March 2).
"The Bible tells us in John 15:13 'Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his brother.' Joshua Wheeler has given an ultimate sacrifice for our country and community, and it’s a debt we can never repay or even fully comprehend. The least we can do is love, appreciate and support his family, his service, and memorialize this enormous sacrifice for freedoms that we enjoy now, and future generations will enjoy, due to the sacrifices of heroes like Joshua Wheeler."
The bill will be presented to a committee to receive approval of being heard on the senate floor. The final step requires the signature from Gov. Mary Fallin.