Dedication ceremony to be held for fallen soldier | Events

ADVANCE, MO  (KFVS)  - A dedication ceremony for SPC James Burnett, Jr. is scheduled for Friday, November 16, at 4 p.m. at the Advance R-IV Elementary School Cafeteria located at 33790 State Highway 91 North in Advance, Mo.

Former Senator Rob Mayer sponsored legislation naming Highway 25 in Stoddard County from the city limits of Advance to one mile south of the city limits the "SPC James Burnett, Jr. Memorial Highway."

Burnett, 21, died on Nov. 16, 2011 serving in Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat and Special Skill badge, Basic Marksmanship Qualification Badge Bar, Weapon: Rifle Inscription: Rifle, Expert, and the Overseas Service Bar.

Burnett's father and stepmother, James and Cheri Burnett, reside in Brownwood, Mo.

Anticipated Speakers include: Christy Mercer on behalf of U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, Judy Thrower on behalf of U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson, Senator Rob Mayer, District 25, Cheri Burnett, Spc. Burnett's Stepmother, MoDOT Southeast District Engineer Mark Shelton.

For more information on the dedication ceremony, please contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).

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