SHOREWOOD – To honor the life of a local hero, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D- Shorewood) passed a resolution to designate the section of Illinois Route 59 from Canton Farm Road to Illinois Route 126 as the “PFC Andrew Meari Memorial Highway.”

“Private First Class Andrew Meari led a service driven life worthy of commemoration,” Loughran Cappel said. “His contribution to our community and sacrifice for the country should never be forgotten.”

PFC Meari was a Private First Class in the 1^st battalion, 502^nd Infantry Regiment, 2^nd Bridge Combat Team, 101^st Airborne Division while assigned to service in Afghanistan. On Nov. 1^st 2010, he was killed in the line of duty as he intercepted a suicide bomber who was trying to get into the American combat camp. His actions saved the lives of multiple people in the camp.

Throughout his military career, PFC Meari was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Infantry Badge. He has also been commemorated in his hometown of Plainfield with the creation of PFC Andrew Meari Memorial Park.