Sergeant Brian L. Walker
By Staff and Wire Reports
Sgt. Brian Walker may be gone, but the memory of the Lucerne Valley hero is guaranteed to live on.
On Wednesday, a State Assembly resolution to designate a portion of State Highway Route 247 was given unanimous support. As a result, "Sergeant Brian Walker Memorial Highway" will be designated in honor of Walker, who sacrificed his life in service of his country in 2012. The resolution was authored by Assemblyman Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia).
“Naming a local highway for him is a small way in which we can honor his sacrifice and his selfless service to our country," Obernolte said.
Locals who sought the special highway designation were especially pleased with the news.
"This is such a fitting honor for Brian to be remembered in his hometown," said Sharon Fritz, a County Service Area 29 employee who spearheaded the drive along with her husband Scott Fritz and longtime local resident Patti Riddle. "I have been watching the progress of the bill for some time now via the Assembly's website and saw that it passed."
Walker was born and raised in the High Desert. He attended Lucerne Valley High School where he was an officer in the FFA program. He later served as a military policeman in the United States Army assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division.
Six days after arriving for his second deployment in the Middle East, Sergeant Walker was killed in Afghanistan on May 13, 2012, when a vehicle under his command was hit with an improvised explosive device, killing him and the driver of the vehicle, Private First Class Richard L. McNulty III.
“We owe a great debt to Sergeant Walker and I am very proud to say that this American hero called my district his home,” Obernolte added.
Assemblyman Obernolte will present a re-cap of end of year state legislation including issues that affect Lucerne Valley at the next meeting of the Lucerne Valley Economic Development Association. The meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at the Senior Center.