(AUSTIN) — The Texas Senate on Monday (March 28) unanimously voted to honor Texas' Korean War veterans by enrolling portions of several important South Texas roadways in the Texas Memorial Highway System.

Senate Bill (SB) 58 by Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, would designate segments of State Highways 359, 16 and 285 as the Veterans of the Korean War Memorial Highway.

The highway would extend from Laredo to Falfurrias and would traverse Webb, Jim Hogg, Duval and Brooks counties.

"More than 289,000 Texans served in the Korean War, and 1,723 of them were either killed or missing in action," Senator Zaffirini said. "Many of them were from South Texas, and naming an important South Texas route in their honor is a fitting tribute to their patriotism and sacrifice."

The Texas Memorial Highway System is a network of roads named in honor of noteworthy Texans, including the distinguished veterans of many conflicts.

Notably, two memorial highways intersect in Webb County: the Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway (U.S. 83), which extends from the Texas-Oklahoma border to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and the Senator Lloyd Bentsen Highway (U.S. 59), which extends from Houston to Laredo.

Groups including the Webb County Korean War Veterans Association and Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars are working hard to secure support for this important legislation. Grants or donations would cover the cost of erecting memorial markers and signs along the highway.

"Designating a memorial highway honoring Korean War Veterans in South Texas is supported strongly," Senator Zaffirini said. "This region is home to many of these brave men and women, and I am proud to collaborate in this effort with my friend, Mary Freeman, and Webb County Korean War veterans, including Ernesto Sanchez, who initiated this project."

SB 58 was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. The continued progress of this and all bills authored by Senator Zaffirini can be monitored via the internet at www.legis.state.tx.us or by contacting the Texas Legislative Reference Library's toll free in-state hotline, 1-877-824-7038.

WEBB COUNTY KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION members join Senator Judith Zaffirini in garnering support for her Senate Bill 58, which would designate segments of several South Texas roadways as the Veterans of the Korean War Memorial Highway. They include (L-R) Ernesto Sanchez, Arnoldo Gutierrez and John F. McKeown.

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