Highway named for fallen Marine
Published: August 27, 2006
COWETA, Okla. - Hundreds of people turned out to help dedicate a stretch of highway to an Oklahoma Marine killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq.
Marine Sgt. James Randolph Graham III was honored Saturday with a memorial highway sign unveiling and procession along the newly named three-mile section of Oklahoma 51 through Coweta.
Graham's sons, Thomas, 7, and J.R., 10, were given an American flag and a replica of the highway sign bearing their father's name.
"It's good for the boys because it will be there for years and years," said Melissa Graham, whose husband was killed in combat Aug. 1, 2005. "As long as they have memories, I think things will be good."
The highway dedication was in front of Coweta Junior High School and was sponsored by a local American Legion chapter and other veterans groups.
"You can say what you want about politics in Oklahoma," said state Rep. Wade Rousselot, D-Wagoner. "But in the House of Representatives there was a standing ovation to get this done."
Initiated by Graham's mother, Katrina Graham, the process took less than six months, a much shorter period than was expected.
The Graham family hugged military friends and then joined others in a ceremonial drive along the road.
People, standing by to watch, unfurled flags and waved to the passing parade, which included dozens of ground-shaking motorcycles ridden by veterans.
"I come out of respect," said Robert Yeahquo, a Coweta resident holding his baseball hat over his heart as the procession drove by. "Time passes by and wars end. With the signs, every time you come by, you see a soldier has given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom."
Graham, who was 25 when he died, joined the military and served with the Marine Reserve Anti-Tank Training Company out of Broken Arrow.
He was trained to use the TOW missile _ known as the tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided missile.
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