http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/vets-orfordville-neal-highway-2024-s460.jpgGov. Evers designates Highway 11 between Orfordville and Footville as the Corporal Benjamin H. Neal Memorial Highway with bipartisan Legislators and local leaders in ceremony Monday.

ORFORDVILLE – Today, Governor Tony Evers signed into law 2023 Act 215 which designates Highway 11 between Orfordville and Footville as the Corporal Benjamin H. Neal Memorial Highway. After graduating from Parkview High School in 2009, Corporal Benjamin Neal joined the U.S. Army and was on his second deployment when he was killed in action in Afghanistan's Kandahar Province on April 25, 2012. The Governor signed Act 215 in Corporal Neal’s hometown of Orfordville at Well-Davis-Young-Neal American Legion Post 209.

Bipartisan authors of the legislation designating the highway in Corporal Neal’s honor, and local members of American Legion Post 209 in Orfordville, attended the Governor's signing of Act 215 and stated:

Senator Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit):

“I thank Governor Evers for signing Act 215 here in Orfordville with Corporal Neal’s parents Don and Trisha and the Orfordville community. I am grateful to the bipartisan coalition of legislators and advocates who worked together to make today a reality. I would particularly like to thank Post Commander Kurt Stuvengen, the members of Wells-Davis-Young-Neal American Legion Post 209 in Orfordville, Bill Fitters and the American Legion Riders, and the American Legion Department of Wisconsin for their longtime and dedicated advocacy.”

Representative Ellen Schutt (R-Clinton):

“Corporal Benjamin H. Neal was a true American hero, giving up his life to serve his country. I am grateful that Highway 11 between Footville and Orfordville will display his name to honor his service and sacrifice.”

Representative Clinton Anderson (D-Beloit):

“It was great to have Governor Evers in Orfordville to sign Act 215 into law. Renaming a section of Highway 11 after Corporal Benjamin Neal is long overdue. Corporal Neal paid the ultimate sacrifice defending our country. His military honors include the Purple Heart, NATO Medal, the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon. I sincerely appreciate everyone who worked hard to get this done.”

Kurt Stuvengen, Post Commander of American Legion Post 209:

“It has been a long emotional road to get this accomplished. I watched Ben grow from a young boy to the warrior and hero he became. He is highly deserving to be remembered in this way by his fellow Wisconsinites. Regardless of how you feel about the military or their missions around the globe, ‘Remember the warrior if not the war.’”

Bill Fitters, Officer of the American Legion Riders of District 1:

“The American Legion Riders of District 1 from Post 209 wanted to ensure that no one ever forgot Corporal Benjamin H. Neal's sacrifice for our country. For the Riders, seeing Ben's name as we are heading out or returning reminds us of the importance of our mission."