By Christie Wisniewski
cwisniewski@newspost.com
About 50 people wearing red, white and blue gathered Tuesday at Prospect Hall to witness the unveiling of a sign dedicating a Frederick bridge to the memory of Sgt. David James Smith.
Smith, a Marine, was fatally injured by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in January 2010.
In February 2015, Delegate William Folden, R-District 3B, introduced the Hero’s Highway Act, which allows Gold Star recipient families to dedicate bridges and other structures to service members killed in combat.
“This is the very first bill I ever wrote,” Folden said tearfully. Signed into law in April 2015, Hero’s Highway became his first successful piece of legislation.
Some local dignitaries attended the ceremony, including County Council members Kirby Delauter and Billy Shreve. Delegate C.T. Wilson, a Democrat and veteran from Charles County, traveled to Frederick for the event.
Folden hosted the unveiling, wearing a blue suit jacket with white stars, after Smith’s mother suggested that everyone who attended the event wear the colors of the flag. The distinctive jacket had previously belonged to another veteran, Officer Matthew Fast of the Frederick Police Department, who died in May at age 29. Folden knew Fast his whole life and they served together in the police department.
Folden told the audience that this was the first bridge in Maryland dedicated to a fallen military member.
“This event is about the service and sacrifice of the men and women of our military,” Folden said. “This is very meaningful, especially to those who have been left behind.”
The next bridge dedication will be in honor of Sgt. 1st Class Lance Vogeler, of Frederick, according to Folden. Vogeler, an Army Ranger, was fatally wounded in Afghanistan in 2010.
Folden told a story about how he would take his son, who was 10 at the time, for drives in West Virginia and see signs dedicating bridges to fallen veterans. They would look up every veteran’s name and learn their story. This inspired him to propose the Hero’s Highway Act.
Angela Spencer sang the national anthem while the crowd faced a large American flag displayed by two firetruck cranes. The crowd then recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
At 30 minutes past noon, the sign was unveiled on the bridge that takes Ballenger Creek Pike over U.S. 340. It bears Smith’s name, rank, and date of death.
“This is the least we can do as a state, folks,” Folden said.
A prayer closed the event, and the crowd dispersed to share their sentiments with Smith’s family and thank Folden for his involvement with the act.
Folden spoke of how Smith’s mother, Mary Jane McWilliams, is “more than proud” to talk about her son, a graduate of Frederick High School who joined the Marines in 2003.
“I actually feel wonderful,” McWilliams said of the sign. “I can’t thank Bill Folden enough.”
She said that she hopes that the sign will remind people who pass over the bridge about those who served in the military. She also hopes that eventually fallen firefighters and police officers will be honored the same way.
“I drive over that bridge,” McWilliams said, smiling. “My son drove that bridge, too.”
Staff writer Danielle E. Gaines contributed to this report.
