CLINTON COUNTY — A section of U.S. Highway 50 betwen Carlyle and Breese was named Sunday in honor of a fallen soldier from Breese.

The section was named the SSG Joshua Melton Memorial Highway in remembrance of Staff Sergeant Joshua Melton.

Melton was killed June 9, 2009, while serving in Kandahar Afghanistan.

State Representative Charlie Meier of Okawville hosted the ceremony to designate the honor.

Meier commented that Melton served his country with pride and distinction as a member of the Illinois Army National Guard, joining a year before his graduation from Central Community High School in Breese. Melton was on his second deployment after serving in Iraq from December of 2004 to March 2006.

The SSG Joshua Melton Memorial Highway was designated by the Illinois General Assembly adopting in House Joint Resolution 74 sponsored by Meier and State Senator Kyle McCarter.