On a sweltering September afternoon, hundreds of people gathered on Galesburg’s public square to dedicate the Sgt.1st Class Kyle B. Wehrly Highway.
The portion of U.S. Highway 150 within the Galesburg city limits is now named after Wehrly, a Galesburg native and non-commissioned officer of the Illinois Army National Guard who was killed in action on Nov. 3, 2005, in Ashraf, Iraq.
Wehrly’s mother, Nita Cross, was thrilled with the turnout on an afternoon when the heat index soared to 106 degrees.
“It brings honor to his legacy and what he stood for in the military,” she said of the highway dedication. “I've always been a backer of the military even since he was killed in action to show that I supported him and I support the others. I stay attached with his local unit and it's like a big family.”
Among those who spoke at the ceremony was Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, commander of the Illinois Army National Guard. He said he saw the new highway sign as he drove into Galesburg for the ceremony.
“And I thought to myself, everyone else that drives by that for history is gonna have the same thought that I had,” Williams said. “And it's going to prompt people to explore who Kyle is even more.”
Retired Col. Corey Wise, who was Wehrly’s commander in Iraq, was master of ceremonies. The 144th Army Band played under a large tree, and the Illinois Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors Team presented the colors during the ceremony.
Lt. Col. Jeremy Miles, who served as Wehrly's platoon leader, told the crowd he remembered witnessing how Wehrly “treated other people, how he devoted himself to caring for them and leading them with discipline and compassion.”
Miles remembered Wehrly as direct, determined, and sarcastic.
“I honestly think that his native language was sarcasm,” Miles said. “He had an uncanny ability to explain to you why you were wrong and make you laugh about it while he did it.”
In Iraq, Wehrly was consistently the vehicle on missions. Miles said he had “an internal compass, like a built-in GPS, where he always knew where he was and how to get where he was going.”
"This highway dedication couldn't be a more fitting tribute to the navigator of all navigators continuing to help lead us down our paths," Miles said.
State Rep. Dan Swanson, who introduced the house joint resolution establishing the memorial highway, said thousands of people will travel the route in the years ahead. Some will have known Wehrly. Others will see his name for the first time.
“My hope is that each sign causes people to pause, even for a moment and remember that our freedom has been protected and defended by real people, from real families and communities just like Galesburg,” Swanson said.
For Werhly’s mother, the tributes were overwhelming at times.
“But everything they said was the honest truth about Kyle and how he served and what he stood for with his service,” Cross said.
Cross was pleased that she and Kyle’s father, wife, and daughter all received ceremonial highway signs of their own to take home. They were also presented with white roses during the ceremony.
“On behalf of the family, I want to thank everyone for coming today, being a part of this celebration and remembering him. And always remember that he and his fellow men gave everything they had for our country and we need to respect it,” Cross said.
Wehrly’s father, the Rev. Peter Wehrly, delivered the benediction. He also thanked Galesburg for coming out to remember his son two decades after his death. He closed with a hope for everyone who passes the signs bearing his son's name.
“May those who pass this place remember. May those who remember give thanks. And may those who give thanks never forget the cost of freedom we enjoy,” he said.
Tri States Public Radio produced this story. TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.
