Commission OKs U.S. 82 renaming
Brother: Community’s efforts ‘humbling and touching’
The Arkansas Highway Commission last week approved a minute order authorizing the renaming of a portion of Highway 82 after Jeremy and Benjamin Wise.
The stretch of highway between Timberlane and Airport drives will be designated the Jeremy & Benjamin Wise Memorial Highway. State Sen. Trent Garner, R-El Dorado, said he’s hoping a sign unveiling ceremony can be held in about two months.
“I’m very pleased. We worked with the Highway Commissioner and local and county governments to get this resolution passed and now we move onto the next phase, which is getting the design of the sign and collecting funds,” Garner said.
Garner was the first to propose re-naming the highway to members of the Union County Quorum Court and El Dorado City Council several months ago. On January 21, present members of both bodies unanimously approved resolutions in favor of the renaming, which were then forwarded to the Highway Commission for consideration.
On March 17, at a regular meeting, the Commission considered the local request and approved the renaming and a mock-up of the signs that will be placed on the highway denoting the new name.
Jeremy and Benjamin Wise were both born and raised in El Dorado and graduated from West Side Christian School.
Jeremy Wise served in the United States Navy and as a Navy SEAL until 2009, and then continued working as a CIA-security contractor until he was killed by a suicide bomber on December 30, 2009, in Khost, Afghanistan. He was 35 years old.
Benjamin Wise first joined the U.S. Army in 2000, at 23 years old, and went on to become a Green Beret. He died on Jan. 15, 2012 after sustaining injuries during a smallarms fire attack in Balkh Province, Afghanistan six days earlier. He was 34.
Both men were survived by wives and children, as well as their parents, brother and sister.
Beau Wise, Jeremy and Benjamin’s brother, said he is very happy that a portion of Magnolia Highway will bear his brothers’ names.
“First of all, it couldn’t be more poetic seeing a Green Beret at the head of this thing,” Wise said, referencing Garner’s service in the special forces. He noted that while Garner didn’t know Jeremy and Benjamin during the time of their service, it’s likely all three joined the special forces community around the same time.
“It’s truly humbling and touching to know that Arkansas still loves their veterans. I’m absolutely enthused, and I know my mom is excited,” Wise continued. “It makes me miss home even more.”
Beau Wise is also a veteran, having served in the U.S. Marine Corps for a number of years. He said he is looking forward to visiting El Dorado for the sign unveiling, along with his sister, Heather, and hopefully their mother, who still resides in El Dorado.
Beau Wise will also be making a stop in Northwest Arkansas during his visit as part of a book tour promoting “Three Wise Men: A Memoir of Family, Service and Sacrifice,” a book he co-wrote with journalist Tom Sileo. He said more dates on an in-person book tour will be finalized soon, potentially with additional stops in Arkansas.
The Jeremy & Benjamin Wise Memorial Highway will stretch approximately 7-7.5 miles, starting at the intersection of Hillsboro Street and Timberlane Drive and continuing to the South Arkansas Regional Airport.
Garner said he is currently working to fundraise for signage denoting the portion of the road’s new name and for installation costs.
“I imagine it’s not going to be a problem considering the overwhelming support the county has for our veterans,” he said.