Committee hears three Memorial Highway bills to honor Missouri Vietnam veterans; fiscal note cites about $4,000 per sign first year

The Special Committee on Tourism heard presentations and public testimony forms were requested for House Bills 63, 64 and 65, which would name stretches of highway for three Missouri residents who died in the Vietnam War.

Representative Bruce Sasseman, who identified himself as the sponsor, said the measures were recommended by the Montgomery City Veterans of Foreign Wars acting as a proxy for the veterans' families. "It is our great privilege to honor these young men who gave everything for our country," Sasseman said, describing the requests as family-driven memorials that local VFW halls support.

House Bill 63 would honor Lance Corporal Joe Kessner, who was 21 when he died in Vietnam and was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Vietnam Civil Actions Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross, the sponsor said.

House Bill 64 would honor Corporal Richard Eugene Rutherford, who the sponsor said was 24 and was killed in hostile action. House Bill 65 would honor Private Byron Lee Brown; Sasseman said Brown was 21 and that this year marked the 57th anniversary of his death.

Sasseman said the local VFW has placed the signs in proximity to family members and that the signs will be at multiple locations, not a single grouped site. He also said the state pays to erect the signs; a fiscal note mentioned roughly $4,000 per sign in the first year and no ongoing fiscal impact recorded in the note for subsequent years.

Representatives voiced support during the hearing. "Some of the most important work that we can do is to keep in mind the people that gave their lives in preservation of this country," Representative Allen said. Representative Wilson described visiting the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., and said she was "incredibly moved" by the monument and supports establishing memorials in the state.

No members of the public registered to testify in favor or opposition on the record during the committee's public hearing, and the chair closed the hearing after soliciting informational testimony and receiving none.

The bills were presented for committee consideration; the transcript records the presentation and discussion but does not record any committee vote on these three bills during this meeting.