State Rep. Ryan Berman this week testified in favor of his bill which would designate a section of US-127 in Isabella County as the “Lance Corporal Justin Ellsworth Memorial Highway.”

Cpl. Ellsworth was killed in action on Nov. 13, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq by an improvised explosive device (IED), roughly two months after arriving in Iraq and his 20th birthday. His father, Chief John Ellsworth, is the police chief in Wolverine Lake – a community Berman represents in the Michigan House as part of the 39th District.

A lifelong resident of Mt. Pleasant, Cpl. Ellsworth was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for alerting fellow Marines about the presence of the device and was credited for saving 11 lives by personally shielding the blast to prevent others from being severely injured or killed.

“Lance Corporal Ellsworth gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect those serving with him, while serving us abroad and protecting American ideals and freedoms,” said Berman, of Oakland County’s Commerce Township. “Chief John Ellsworth is well-known in and around the community and I’ve gotten to know this Gold Star family and see the positive impact they have in the district. They’re very active in fundraising for military families and taking part in events.”

Berman formally read into the record a statement from John Ellsworth indicating what the dedication would mean for his late son’s family and friends.

“Justin has a little sister, Jessica, who is 10 years younger than him. She looked up to her big brother and it pains me to think that she only had 10 years of memories to make with him and those memories are fading with time,” John Ellsworth wrote. “She is 25 now and needs to know that her brother’s sacrifice is remembered and honored. Justin’s classmates and friends he grew up with are still in the area and they would like to see him honored in this way.”

The portion of highway to be named would begin at the US-127 Business Route exit and extend north to the Pickard Road exit. The Michigan Memorial Highway Act was enacted in 2001 and allows for the naming of bridges and highways within the state.

Following testimony, HB 5267 was unanimously advanced to the House Ways and Means Committee for consideration.

PHOTO INFORMATION: State Rep. Ryan Berman provides testimony during a House Transportation Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 3. Berman has sponsored legislation naming a section of US-127 in Isabella County as the “Lance Corporal Justin Ellsworth Memorial Highway.”