A stretch of road in New London will be dedicated in honor of Army Sgt. Patrick Ryan Carroll.
Carroll, 25, was killed in action Feb. 7, 2011, during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.
He died “of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device,” according to the Department of Defense.
Carroll was a member of the 319th Military Intelligence Battalion, 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, N.C., according to an article published in The Morning Journal.
A portion of State Route 162, from the Village of New London to Fitchville at the intersection of Route 162 and Route 250, will be dedicated in Carroll’s honor with signs, said Clint Cherry an organizer of the group spearheading the dedication.
The event begins at 2 p.m. July 10 in the parking lot of MADD Impressions, 4757 Route 162, weather permitting. All are invited to attend.
Carroll’s hometown formed Friends of Army Sergeant Patrick Ryan Carroll and began pursing the idea of dedicating the highway to their hero a few years ago and it has finally come to fruition.
“This Fourth of July we celebrate our freedom but, as we celebrate do we really take the time to remember the cost of that freedom? As we drive past these signs now and for generations to come it is our hope, we take the time to honor Army Sergeant Patrick Carroll and that these signs may be a reminder of the sacrifice our soldiers pay for that freedom,” said Cherry.
Carroll was on his second deployment after graduating from a Kentucky high school when he was killed in action.
“When Patrick told me he joined the Army, I was upset at first. But, I knew it was something he wanted to do — to follow in footsteps of his great-grandpa, grandpa and his dad,” said his mother Amy Griffitts of New London.
“Patrick was a proud member of the 319th MI BN Battlefield Brigade at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He volunteered to go to Afghanistan. We had Christmas together before he left,” Griffitts said.
“It snowed in North Carolina that year so we had a few extra days. But, when you get that knock on the door it seems it’s never a good sign and when you get that final notice that your son was killed by a suicide bomber,” Griffitts said.
“When Patrick came home for the last time our little town of New London opened their hearts and arms to him and our families are so proud to call this town our home. People lined the streets with red, white and blue, flags in their hands waving as we drove by — hundreds of people came to his funeral,” Griffitts said.
“Our family and friends mourn his death every day. He will not be forgotten The stretch of highway between our hometown and his final resting place will be known as Army Sergeant Patrick Ryan Carroll Memorial Highway; it will serve as a reminder for all that drive it,” said Griffitts.
“I remember Patrick as a quiet young man. He had no fear to stand up for what he thought was right and was proud to represent his country,” said Annette Delaney, also of New London.
“It was my honor to help clean up his highway, and get it ready for this dedication. Our village has waited a long time for our hero to be honored with his own highway,” Delaney added.
Cherry contacted State Rep. Dick Stein’s office mid-2020 to launch the project.
The group initially planned the dedication as a surprise to Carroll’s parents, but ended up having to let the secret out in order to obtain Carroll’s social security number for the application, Cherry said.
After gathering the information, the group had to submit it a second time — earlier this year — due to the election which interrupted the process, Cherry said.
“Mr. Stein’s office sent a link so we could watch it as it went through and passed each step until the governor signed it into law,” Cherry also said.
Carroll was also honored with the repainting of his classic 1972 Pontiac LeMans. The vehicle is now decorated with a painting of the American flag as well as the words, “Freedom isn’t free! We did it all for you and you’re welcome!”
Carroll’s awards, decorations, campaign and service medals include: Bronze Star Medal Posthumous, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge and NATO Medal Posthumous.
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