Honor Arizona heroes on I-17

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This recognition — which includes memorialization of the Sunset Point Rest Area, a great place to stop on a scenic drive — is a fitting and deeply deserving tribute to two remarkable Arizonans who gave everything in defense of freedom and humanity.”

Tell Us What You Think

What are your thoughts on honoring the sacrifice of Kayla Jean Mueller and Navy SEAL Charles H. Keating IV by renaming a stretch of Interstate 17 in their memory? Tell us in 300 words or less at yourvalley.net/letters, or email your comments, name, address and contact number to AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

OPINION — Arizona has a long and proud history of answering the nation's call, and few stories embody that sacrifice more than those of Kayla Jean Mueller and Navy SEAL Charles H. Keating IV.

Recently, Congressman Abe Hamadeh introduced HR 10091, the Mueller-Keating Memorial Highway Act, to designate a 26-mile stretch of Interstate 17 between Phoenix and Prescott in their honor.  

This recognition — which includes memorialization of the Sunset Point Rest Area, a great place to stop on a scenic drive — is a fitting and deeply deserving tribute to two remarkable Arizonans who gave everything in defense of freedom and humanity.

Mueller, a Prescott native, devoted her life to humanitarian aid before being taken hostage and killed by ISIS in Syria in 2015. Keating IV, a Phoenix native, laid down his life in 2016 during intense combat with ISIS in Iraq while attempting to rescue fellow servicemen.

Naming this portion of I-17 after Kayla and Charles ensures that millions of drivers traveling from Phoenix to Northern Arizona will be reminded daily of their bravery, selflessness and sacrifice. 

Congressman Hamadeh deserves credit for championing this legislation and bringing our community together behind a common purpose.

I urge our congressional delegation and local leadership to give HR 10091 their full support and help immortalize the legacy of these two Arizona heroes.

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