HOUSTON, Miss. (WTVA) -- The city of Houston and Chickasaw County pay tribute to members of the Mississippi National Guard 288th Sapper Company.
It was an opportunity to say thanks to the soldiers who served the country overseas during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
"We'd been planning this situation to happen on their first weekend back," Houston Mayor Stacey Parker said. "We made sure that we had them here to welcome home and use this as an appropriate situation for a dedication as Veterans Memorial Highway."
The sign is one of two that will designate the Highway 15 Bypass as Veterans Memorial Highway in the city of Houston.
Each sign is to serve as a reminder of the sacrifice and dedication that veterans have made.
"It is especially appropriate that we use public assets like roads to commemorate the service of our veterans," said Mike Tagert, transportation commissioner for the Mississippi Department of Transportation's Northern District. "You know, every time we see this, we'll be reminded of their service."
The ceremony also gives the 288th Sapper Company an opportunity to say thanks for all the support they received while being deployed overseas.
"It gives us a great chance to thank the city and county for all their support while we were deployed in Afghanistan," Cmdr. Brenton Montgomery said. "It's kind of two-fold for us to thank them and for them to thank veterans."
The new signs are a token of appreciation that people have for the soldiers who risked their lives while performing route clearance operations.
"This is just a small token that our community is able to let them know and those know how we honor them," Parker said. "We'll always honor them and say 'thank you' by the use of this sign."
City and county leaders also say the signs are for all future veterans who are still on foreign soil and are expected to return home in the near future.
