(Haines) – House Finance Committee Co-Chair Bill Thomas passed along his gratitude yesterday to the Cordova community, Alaska Department of Transportation and colleagues in the legislature following a bridge naming ceremony for a deceased Cordova serviceman.

The David H. Elivosky Bridge was dedicated in Cordova last week. The young soldier honored died in Vietnam at age 17. This is the first of 14 service men to be memorialized by the naming of bridges along the Copper River Highway; all were either born in Cordova or lived there at the time of their deployment overseas.

“This is a way to pay a lasting tribute to these men and to their families for the sacrifice they made,” Thomas, R-Haines, said. “As a Vietnam veteran myself, I think it is important that we honor our service members. The unnamed bridges along the Copper River highway presented a good way to do that.”

Among the attendees were two of the men who served with David E. Elivosky. “It was a heartfelt celebration bringing many from inside and outside the Cordova area together to honor one of our young soldiers,” Thomas said.

Rep. Thomas, Mayor Jim Kallander, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, spoke at the event. The U.S. Coast Guard was also represented by Rear Admiral Thomas P. Ostebo.

The naming of bridges on the Copper River Highway is a result of Thomas’ House Bill 246which passed during the second legislative session earlier this year in Juneau.