Army Specialist Michael Campbell is gone but not forgotten, and a new sign going up along U.S. 54 near Brazito will ensure he never will be.
A group of approximately 35 gathered Saturday morning at Peace Lutheran Church for the unveiling and dedication of the sign, which designates a section of U.S. 54 as the U.S. Army Specialist Michael Campbell Memorial Highway.
The occasion was marked with local veterans, family and friends sharing stories of Campbell's can-do spirit, unrelenting compassion and ultimate sacrifice.
Campbell was killed May 19, 2004, by a roadside bomb while driving through a combat zone near Baghdad, Iraq.
At 38 years old, he was laid to rest in Higginsville and received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals following his death.
Campbell's childhood was shaped by abandonment after his mother left him and his siblings when he was young. He attended St. Paul's Lutheran High School in Concordia, where he met the Sommerers, who welcomed him as one of their own.
After graduating in 1988, he went on to join the U.S. Navy, Missouri National Guard, Montana National Guard and, after 9/11, the U.S. Army.
Last year, a grassroots effort began to honor Campbell's life and service with a public designation. A trail and bridge were considered, but the highway designation near Brazito was chosen.
"A road is certainly fitting," said Lloyd Sommerer, Campbell's former classmate and good friend. "His road was cut tragically short."
Sommerer traveled to Brazito from Nebraska to attend the sign dedication Saturday morning.
"This is where I grew up and every time I come back I'm going to drive by that sign," he said. "And it means I'll never be able to forget the service Michael gave to his country and the sacrifice he made.
"The people who knew him knew that his sacrifice was the sacrifice of just a good guy," he continued. "Someone we would have liked to have around a little bit longer."
The effort to designate a section of highway in honor of Campbell has been several months in the making and required approval by the state.
Rep. Dave Griffith, R-Jefferson City, led the charge in the Legislature and got the designation passed.
"For a lot of us Vietnam vets that came back, we know what it was like when we came back then, but now it's a whole different atmosphere," Griffith said. "I just praise God that we're able to give these heroes the honor that they deserve."
After lawmakers approved, organizers had to raise $3,700 to pay for the highway sign and its installation, which was handily done with help from the American Legion, VFW and individual contributions.
Griffith said the highway signs have been made and will be installed soon.
Griffith and Rep. Rudy Veit, R-Wardsville, were present at the dedication.
"These types of ceremonies really bring the community back together again," Griffith said. "This small community here, they knew him and they loved him and they helped raise him. It's just an amazing story, and I'm glad we're able to share that because so often we don't hear those stories."
Remembering those who have lost their life in service is crucial, Peace Lutheran Pastor Micah Ernst said at the dedication.
Jeremy Amick, who was involved with fundraising for the sign, said too many fallen soldiers are forgotten.
"Too often we have scores of cemeteries around here with veteran plaques and we don't know anything about them," Amick said. "So being able to preserve those stories and perpetuate those stories is very important."
Griffith has proposed an idea to add barcodes or QR codes to memorial highway signs to link to the honoree's biography.
He said he has initiated conversation with the Missouri Department of Transportation and others and doesn't think it would be too complicated to implement.
Sommerer said it would be a nice addition to Campbell's sign, if possible.
"You think it's just a sign, but it's not just a sign to the people who know him," Sommerer said. "I was really encouraged to hear that maybe there will be a way to look up these heroes who have signs along the road and hear what they did or read what they did."
The story has been edited to change the location of where he is buried.