The Akron Legal News

Bill would extend designation of highway honoring Ohio veteran killed in Iraq

TIFFANY L. PARKS
Special to the Legal News
Published: January 20, 2015

Rep. Anthony DeVitis, R-Uniontown, has introduced a bill into the Ohio General Assembly that would modify the location of the existing “Sgt. 1st Class Daniel B. Crabtree Memorial Road.”

House Bill 673 would extend the memorial road from Stark County to Summit County.

Crabtree, who had lived in Hartville, Ohio from age 4, was killed while serving in Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded next to his vehicle during a combat patrol near Al Kut in June 2006.

He was 31.

In sponsor testimony for HB 673 before the House Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, DeVitis said friends and family members of the special forces weapons sergeant have supported the proposal.

“This legislation would honor and commemorate his brave service to our country and allow his legacy to live on through both counties in which he resided,” he said.

Crabtree’s mother, Judy Crabtree, issued a statement encouraging lawmakers to support HB 673. She noted that her son attended school, played sports and was a police officer in Hartville.

“But he also had very close ties to Green Township as well. His high school sweetheart, Kathy Williams, became his wife,” she said.

“Her family lived in Green Township, so he spent a good part of his life there. They were married in Summit County and had family and friends there. Dan became a police officer with the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department, was a member of the Honor Guard, and was a sniper on the SWAT team.”

Just before his deployment, the young couple sold their home in Hartville and began building a house in Green Township.

“Kathy and baby Mallory lived with her parents in Green while he was overseas. Kathy was overseeing the construction of the new home and had a huge homecoming party planned for Dan when he returned in September 2006,” Judy Crabtree said.

“Unfortunately, Kathy and Mallory moved into the dream home in August 2006 without their much-loved husband and father. They still live there with Kathy’s second husband and young son, Gavin.”

Judy Crabtree said Green Township has honored her son’s sacrifice.

“Our family was so proud when Memorial Day week 2007 was proclaimed ‘SFC Daniel Crabtree Week.’ When Veterans Memorial Park was dedicated on Nov. 11, 2010, our family was there,” she said.

“Kathy helped light the eternal flame and Daniel has a brick there. We visit there and feel very close to him. However, Dan’s daughter, Mallory, was only 17 months old when he was killed so she doesn’t have any memories of her daddy. She is, however, his biggest cheerleader.”

Judy Crabtree said the proposed road extension into Green Township would be a great source of pride for Mallory and “give her added comfort as she travels on it.”

“We sincerely hope the extension is a possibility. The people of Green have been so supportive of our family, and they have helped keep his memory and that of other fallen heroes alive.”

[Back]