KIANTONE – A part of Route 60 in the Town of Kiantone will be officially dedicated in honor of a Jamestown hero killed in the line of duty during a ceremony Friday afternoon.
Earlier this year, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation naming Route 60 from the Jamestown City Line to Route 62 in the Town of Kiantone in honor of Private Charles S. Cooper Jr.
Private Cooper, a Jamestown High School graduate, was killed by a roadside bomb in April 2005 while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The 19-year-old received a Purple Heart during a previous incident before returning to active duty.
Signs for the Private Charles S. Cooper, Jr. Memorial Highway will be installed Friday afternoon during a special ceremony.
Private Cooper’s family, along with Assemblyman Andy Goodell, County Executive George Borrello and other officials will be on hand for the 2 p.m. dedication at the Kiantone Fire Hall.
I wish I could have met him but I am proud to be able to call him family
I’m from Jamestown. My son was born in Jamestown in the same year as Pfc Cooper. He served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan until his 5th IED took him off the field for good in 2012. My son lives in pain but is with us. When I travel back home, I usually come up through Warren. I will always think of Pfc Cooper as an infantry mom. That will never be an ‘invisible’ sign to me.