Armed Forces Day Ceremony Dedicates Bridge to Soldier

A dedication ceremony was held May 21, Armed Forces Day, naming a bridge at the Croton Reservoir in honor of Army Specialist David R. Fahey, Jr., who served and died in Afghanistan.

Fahey died Feb. 28, 2011 during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan when an IED exploded underneath the Humvee he was driving. He was 23.

The Yorktown resident was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge.

State Senator Terrence Murphy led the effort to name the Route 129 bridge in Fahey's memory.

"David was a true hero from our community," Murphy explained. "He paid the ultimate sacrifice while defending our nation and it is my hope that whenever we drive over the Army Specialist David R. Fahey Jr. Memorial Bridge we are reminded that freedom isn't free. Recognizing David, and the entire Fahey family, was simply the right thing to do."

Armed Forces Day was established as a national holiday in 1949 for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country.

PHOTOS: Senator Terrence Murphy poses with the Fahey family under the newly revealed Army Specialist David R. Fahey Jr. Memorial Bridge sign; Senator Terrence Murphy addresses the crowd with Yorktown Fire Commissioner Martin McGannon looking on./contributed