Committee approves naming Second River bridge for Staff Sgt. Christopher Potts

The Rhode Island Senate Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans' Affairs approved legislation to name the Second River bridge in honor of Staff Sergeant Christopher Potts, a Rhode Island National Guard member who was killed in Iraq. The committee moved the measure by voice vote and the chair announced the ayes had it.

Sponsor testimony described Potts as a 14-year servicemember of the Rhode Island National Guard who was killed on Oct. 3, 2004, during duty near Baghdad. Raymond Vaines, a fellow veteran who said he deployed with Potts, told the committee that Potts’ actions "saved hundreds of lives" and urged passage. Vaines said he and other supporters had worked with the Veterans Advisory Committee to revive the naming effort.

Multiple veterans and former commanders testified in support. Tiger Patrick, a state officer with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, described Potts’ service and family’s connection to the community. Major (ret.) Mark Allen Buscher, who said he was a platoon leader during the patrol when Potts was killed, testified about Potts’ character and reliability during deployments. Family members, including Jackson and Terry Potts, were present in the hearing room.

Supporters told the committee that naming bridges and other local memorials keeps the memory of fallen service members alive in communities and makes their stories available to future generations. Tiger Patrick said renaming visible infrastructure provides a tangible reminder that "this person mattered and fought for us so that we could enjoy what we have today."

The committee approved the measure by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript. The sponsor expressed hope the bill would also be approved by the House.