This Memorial Day weekend, as you are out and about headed to a picnic or to the lake, take a moment to notice and reflect on the roadways that are dedicated to local fallen veterans and first responders. In western Monroe County, elected officials found it important to take the necessary actions to dedicate roadways to our local fallen heroes. Below you will learn a little bit about some of these dedications of roads on which you might find yourself traveling.
In the town of Parma, a portion of the state highway system Route 259 between Lake Ontario State Parkway and Dunbar Road was designated and known as the “Specialist Jason Hasenauer Memorial Highway.” On December 28, 2005, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Private Jason Hasenauer was sitting in a machine-gun turret of a Humvee when a roadside bomb went off, overturning the vehicle, injuring four other soldiers and killing Pfc. Hasenauer. Pfc Hasenauer was promoted to Specialist First Class and was serving in the United States Army’s 82nd Airborne Division at the time of his death. Jason joined the Hilton Fire Explorer Post at the age of 14 and became Explorer Chief. He graduated from Hilton High School in 2003 and was an active member of the Hilton Fire Department, having joined when he was 18 years old. Even while in the Army, he routinely called his friends in the Hilton Fire Department to stay in touch. Specialist Jason Hasenauer was survived by his parents, Dan and Rita Hasenauer; fiancée, Colette Kopp; three-week-old daughter, Kayla; brothers, Daniel R., Jeremy and Eric.
In Greece, a portion of the state highway system was designated as the “Sergeant Gary Beikirch Memorial Highway.” It includes all the portion of the state highway system constituting Latta Road (Rt. 18) between Long Pond Road and Route 390 in the town of Greece. Sergeant Gary B. Beikirch was a Vietnam veteran who earned the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam, saving lives and surviving life-threatening injuries in war. He was stationed at Camp Buck-Song where he risked his life defending fellow soldiers, Vietnamese comrades, and villagers while sustaining life-threatening injuries. Beikirch was a highly distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community who passed away on December 26, 2021. He left an immeasurable impact on this community, state, and nation. His dedication to serve and love others didn’t stop after his time in uniform, as Gary continued to devote his life to the benefit and service of others. For over 30 years, he was a middle school counselor for the Greece School District, positively impacting thousands of lives. Gary was also a co-founder of the Veterans Outreach Center that has served and continues to serve veterans of Monroe County and across our region. Gary’s dedication to others didn’t stop there. He was actively involved in his church, First Bible Baptist in Hilton, and the faith community, serving as an ordained minister. Although Gary is no longer here, his legacy of love lives on for all those he touched.
In Spencerport/Ogden a portion of state highway system Rt. 259 between Lyell Avenue and Rt. 31 in the village of Spencerport is dedicated as the “Firefighter Robert Fowler Memorial Highway.” On Saturday, February 22, 1997, at 9 a.m., Robert “Bob” Fowler of the Spencerport Volunteer Fire Department was responding to a call of greater than 70-mile-per-hour winds blowing the windows out of a storefront in Spencerport. He and his 15-year-old son, Tim, served together in the department explorer program and were on the way to the firehouse to respond to the call. They were stopped at the intersection of Rt. 259 and Lyell Avenue when heavy winds blew over a 40-foot tree, causing it to fall onto the length of the car, crushing it. Tim, in the passenger seat, ducked down and the airbag covered him, partially protecting him from the impact, but Robert took the full blow of the tree and died instantly. Firefighter Fowler joined the Spencerport Fire Department in 1974 and served the people of his community for over 23 years. His love for family and children was also evident as he spent many years organizing the Fire Department Christmas Party for the children of department members and served at the annual Easter and Halloween Parties and Haunted House. Firefighter Robert “Bob” Fowler was survived by his wife, Gail, and sons, Alan and Tim.
These three roadway dedications were made possible through the efforts of Assemblyman Josh Jensen of the 134th Assembly District.
On Clarkson Parma Town Line Road in Parma, a portion of that county road is dedicated to the fallen firefighters and their families. Last summer, County Legislators Jackie Smith and Blake Keller worked with the chairmen from the local chapter of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to dedicate this portion of roadway. The National Fallen Fire Fighters Foundation is a nonprofit whose mission is to honor and remember American fallen fire heroes as well as provide resources and support to their families. Larry Vaughan, of Brockport, a Vietnam veteran and lifelong firefighter, is a volunteer and a committee chair member at the Rochester NFFF. Retired Chief Vaughan began the process to request that a portion of the road be dedicated to the local fallen firefighters. “Legislator Jackie Smith and Legislator Blake Keller made it happen,” said Vaughan. The portion of Clarkson Parma Townline Road was chosen because the annual fundraiser for the NFFF is held at Deerfield Country Club each year. “It is a beautiful gesture having the sign for the dedication right before the entrance of the country club,” said Vaughan. For more information on the NFFF, visit http://www.firehero.org.
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