Whitacre measure clears committee

INDIANAPOLIS — An effort to honor a Jay County resident who died in military service took a step forward Tuesday.

The Indiana Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation unanimously approved House Concurrent Resolution 9 to rename an Indiana 67 bridge in honor of Lance Cpl. Andrew F. Whitacre of Bryant during its session Tuesday.

The measure, which has already been approved by the House, now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

Whitacre was 21 when he died on June 19, 2008, during combat operations in Afghanistan. He was a 2005 graduate of Jay County High School, leaving for boot camp about a month after graduation.

The bridge in consideration for being renamed — it would be called Lance Corporal Andrew Whitacre Memorial Bridge — is located on Indiana 67 just southeast of Jay County Junior-Senior High School. (A renovation project for the bridge was completed last year.)

“This is right down the road from the high school where Andrew attended,” said State Rep. J.D. Prescott (R-Union City), who represents the southern two-thirds of Jay County, in presenting his resolution to the committee Tuesday. (Co-authors are Rep. Mat Lehman (R-Berne) — he represents the northern third of Jay County — and Rep. Craig Haggard (R-Mooresville). “It’s a perfect spot there where the community can reflect and remember him.”

Prescott noted that part of Whitacre’s role in Operation Enduring Freedom was to train Afghan national police.

Whitacre, who was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, California, died while conducting combat operations in Farah Province, Afghanistan. 

Capt. Eric Daniel Terhune, 34, Lexington, Kentucky, who was part of the same unit, was also killed in action that day.

Whitacre had served a previous deployment to Iraq.

“There is no act more selfless and brave than sacrificing one’s life for the freedom of others,” said State Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle) in a press release. (He is the Senate sponsor for the resolution. “Lance Cpl. Whitacre dedicated his life to protecting our freedoms. It is an honor to memorialize his actions and know that every time we cross that bridge, we are celebrating a decorated service member from our community.”