Chiefland honors fallen soilder with dedication of local highway

By Terry Witt

Staff Writer

 U.S. Army Specialist Brandon Thoreson was killed in combat last year in Iraq, but his sacrifice won’t be forgotten.

A sign dedicating the section of U.S. 19 in front of Chiefland High School to the 22-year-old CHS graduate was unveiled at a ceremony Tuesday
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His father, Donald Thoreson, and stepmother, Susan, were present. Donald Thoreson said the sign meant a great deal to him. Brandon was his only son.

“It’s an honor. Freedom isn’t free,” Thoreson said. “If it wasn’t for volunteers like him, we wouldn’t be exercising our freedoms.”

Thoreson, who served in the First Calvary from Fort Bliss, Texas and would have turned 23 on Aug. 23, volunteered for combat infantry duty. He was killed on Sept. 15, 2007 in Baghdad during combat operations.

The ceremony honoring Thoreson was organized by Police Chief Robert Douglas.

When Douglas heard about Thoreson’ death, he said he called Thoreson’s father and asked him for permission to do something for the fallen soldier.  Since Thoreson was a CHS graduate, Douglas suggested naming the highway in front of the school for him. The elder Thoreson agreed.

Douglas contacted State Sen. Charles Dean, R-Inverness and State Rep. Will Kendrick, R-Carrabelle. They introduced legislation in the Senate and House respectively, authorizing the naming of the quarter mile section of U.S. 19 in front of CHS for Thoreson.

“It’s the least we can do,” Douglas said. “We’ve got to honor our servicemen and women.”

Douglas said Thoresen will never be able to drive up and down U.S. 19, or do other things young men of his age take part in, including raise a family and children. Douglas said Thoreson knew the dangers of being a combat soldier in Iraq, and set an example by volunteering.

“He knew that going in and he did it anyway,” Douglas said.