RENO COUNTY — As part of a bill passed by the Kansas Legislature this spring, K-96 from the junction of 56th Avenue to the junction of Nickerson Road will be named in honor of the 96th "Deadeye" Infantry Division.
The dedication ceremony for those new signs will be at the Nickerson Community Center on Dec. 7 at 9 a.m.
According to Reno County Commissioner Ron Hirst, who testified in Topeka in support of the bill, there were at least four men from Reno County that served in the 96th in Okinawa and Leyte, including Sgt. J.L. Mock, S/Sgt. Clyde C. Thrasher, Harold Garrison and PFC William N. Hirst.
William N. Hirst is the commissioner's father and he was killed in action on May 27, 1945. William Hirst received the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Distinguished Unit Citation.
Hutch Community Foundation aided in allowing the use of their expendable funds account for this project.
All servicemen and their families, regardless of conflict, are invited to the Dec. 7 ceremony. That is the 83rd anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day.