SUNBURY — One of Lawrence County’s fallen soldiers was honored once again, this time with a marker at the Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial in Sunbury.

Sgt. Justin Bradley Allen, of Coal Grove, was honored with a marble cross, alongside more than 250 other Ohio service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since the War on Terror began.

On his fourth deployment as an Army Ranger, the 23-year-old Allen, a team leader assigned to Company D 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment, was killed July 18, 2010, during a combat mission in Afghanistan.

“I think it’s great anytime we can remember our fallen soldiers,” said Coal Grove Mayor Larry McDaniel. “Anything we can do for them, I think it is great to give them some recognition.”

The Village of Coal Grove and the Lawrence County Commission also honored Allen this summer by renaming Marion Pike, the main thoroughfare in Coal Grove, the Sgt. Justin Bradley Allen Memorial Parkway.

The Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial was founded in 2005 by several Ohio veterans who had a vision to build a tribute to all of the service members from Ohio that have made the ultimate sacrifice defending the United States.

“We are all forever in debt to heroes like Justin Allen for their sacrifice in defense of our nation,” said Neal Kruse, president of the Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial. “The memorial was created by veterans and Gold Star families to honor the memory of these brave men and women, and to comfort the families they leave behind.”

The Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial is located in the central Ohio town of Sunbury and is recognized by Ohio House Resolution 30 as Ohio’s only memorial honoring all Ohio military personnel killed in the War on Terrorism. The organization interacts with families and works to educate Ohioans on the sacrifice and stories of the state’s fallen heroes. For more information, visit www.ohiofallenheroes.org

“The memorial is a reminder to all Ohioans of the heroism and sacrifice that has preserved our American way of life,” said Shawn Delgado, USMC (Ret.) and vice president of the memorial. “We will never forget.”