Forsyth County dedicates Pilgrim Mill Road as Specialist Zachary Evan Steele Memorial Road

Forsyth County officials and military leaders dedicated a stretch of Pilgrim Mill Road as the Specialist Zachary Evan Steele Memorial Road at a public ceremony in Forsyth County. The dedication honors Steele’s service in the Georgia Army National Guard and commemorates his life for residents who travel the route.

Lieutenant Colonel Steve Holland opened remarks by recognizing elected officials and the Steel family, and by praising Steele as “one of the brightest of our young service members” who “selflessly committed to a life of service,” saying Steele’s spirit remained strong within his battalion. An official representing the county formally announced the road designation, calling the dedication “a lasting tribute to a young man who served his county, his country, and his community with honor.”

State Senator Greg Dolezal, who identified himself as representing much of Forsyth County in the Georgia Senate, said road dedications are “amongst the highest honors that we as elected officials can bestow” and urged attendees to remember how Steele lived rather than how he died. A representative identified in the record as Sheriff Ron Freeman offered remarks thanking service members and expressing the sheriff’s office’s debt to the military.

At the ceremony, Steele’s mother—who identified herself as “Zach’s mama”—recounted that Steele had recently returned from deployment and said he was struck by another vehicle on 07/22/2025 while on active duty orders. She described his faith and outreach through short videos called “Zach Talks God,” and asked the community to see the memorial as more than a sign: “When you pass this road, don’t just see a sign. Please remember his name. Remember his life, and remember the man he became,” she said. She also urged drivers to “slow down, to look twice” as a reminder of roadway safety.

Organizers and speakers framed the designation as a permanent local memorial and a reminder of the human cost of roadway crashes. The ceremony included an invocation and closing remarks; there was no vote or formal board action recorded in the transcript excerpt provided. The family and officials thanked attendees and those who helped plan the dedication.

The county did not provide additional details in the transcript about the process for approving the designation (such as a motion or vote number) nor about any signage funding or installation timetable; those details were not specified in the record provided.