ST. PAUL – The House on Tuesday approved a bill to name a stretch of Highway 23 through Paynesville in honor of a fallen war hero from the city.
Rep. Jeff Howe, R-Rockville, authored the House bill (HF 146) and Sen. Michelle Fischbach, R-Paynesville, is carrying the companion.
Upon enactment, the proposal would serve as a tribute to Kenneth L. Olson, a 1963 Paynesville High School graduate who went on to serve in the U.S. Army and earned a Medal of Honor, the United States’ top military award.
Howe said Olson made the ultimate sacrifice a human can make when, in the course of battle in Vietnam, he gave his own life to spare nearby fellow soldiers.
“This is a true American hero and this is the least we can do to pay respect to a man who gave so much for his country,” Howe said. “Dedicating a stretch of Highway 23 in honor of Spc. Olson will serve as a reminder of his legacy to people who travel that road.”
The bill, which was approved 134-0 by the House, now awaits a vote in the Senate.
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