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‘Deserves A Legacy’

Route 394 Named In Memory Of Swanson

A portion of Route 394 in the village of Lakewood has been named in memory of Lance Cpl. Aaron M. Swanson. Pictured from left are state Assemblyman Andy Goodell, former state Sen. Cathy Young, County Executive George Borrello, Gene and Julie Swanson and Alec Andrest. P-J photos by Jordan W. Patterson

LAKEWOOD — Lance Cpl. Aaron M. Swanson’s name will be soon be seen on Route 394 forever.

Legislation signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in August officially designated a portion of the road as the Lance Cpl. Aaron M. Swanson Memorial Highway. The sign is to remind people of Swanson’s service.

“He’s definitely going to be missed,” said Alec Andrest, Swanson’s team leader at the time of his death on Feb. 7, 2011, in Afghanistan.

Swanson, a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, was killed by a roadside bomb during combat operations. An official ceremony Friday was held at the American Legion in Lakewood, Swanson’s hometown, to unveil the new sign. Members of Swanson’s family including his father, Gene, and his mother, Julie.

Andrest, a USMC veteran, said he and Swanson shared a vehicle almost every day during their tour except “that one day.”

Alec Andrest, a U.S. Marine Corps. veteran and sergeant, speaks at Swanson’s ceremony Friday.

“It always sticks with me, something that Gene had said. He said there’s days that he forgets that he’s gone. ‘My son left and there’s days that I forget he’s not coming back,’ and that has always just really stuck with me,” Andrest said.

Andrest highlighted the family support Swanson had and said several Marines spend time with the family every Feb. 7 to recall stories and memories of him. He noted that he is just one of hundreds of Marines who served with Swanson, some of whom were in attendance.

Swanson was born on Aug. 10, 1989, and was a 2007 graduate of Southwestern High School where he ran track and played football. He was also an active member of Boy Scout Troop 131 through middle and high school, that was represented at Friday’s ceremony.

Swanson also attended Jamestown Community College before enlisting in the Marines.

Assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, India Company based in Buffalo, he was deployed to Afghanistan in August 2010 for a seven-month tour.

Swanson received several awards during his service including the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the NATO Medal – International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan.

Local representatives who spoke during the ceremony included state Assemblyman Andy Goodell; Jacqueline Phelps, field representative of Congressman Tom Reed’s Office; George Borrello, Chautauqua County executive; Cathy Young, former state Senator; Frank Cirillo, Region 5 state Department of Transportation director; Greg Carlson, Chautauqua County Veterans Service Agency director; Susan Rowley, the local Blue Star Mothers president; Holly Baker, the Gold Star Mothers president; and the Chautauqua County Color Guard.

Randall Holcomb and Douglas Schutte, Lakewood trustees; Edward McCague, Lakewood deputy mayor; and Jesse Robbins, Busti Town supervisor also attended the ceremony.

Goodell and Young both passed initial legislation in the state Assembly and state Senate, respectively, to commemorate Swanson. The official legislation and pen that Cuomo signed was presented to the family Friday, too.

“At the young age of 21 on the other side of the world, Lance Corporal Swanson made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation while deployed to Afghanistan in 2011 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom,” Young said. “Aaron was one of those members of the 9/11 generation and he had just turned 12 years old when those planes hit the World Trade Center, the Pentagon was attacked and that plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field. And I know that entire generation was really impacted and affected by what happened.

“Aaron was one of those brave young people to volunteer on behalf of our country,” Young continued. “He stood up and said that I want to protect my family, my neighbors, my county, my state and my country from terrorism. He deserved our heartfelt admiration, gratitude and respect. He has that from me and everyone else here. Nevertheless, he deserves more. He deserves a legacy.”

Young noted that the memorial highway will give the Lakewood native that legacy he deserves.

Goodell, who also spoke to the family and those in attendance, told the story of his daughter who also served in the Marine Corps. He detailed his gratitude that he was able to welcome his child home after serving overseas, a luxury the Swanson family was not afforded.

“My daughter came home and I’m thankful for that,” Goodell said. “We all know it’s a fine line, isn’t it, between welcoming someone back and not. But Aaron put his country first. He put his entire life on hold while he joined the Marine Corps and he faced them straight up.”

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