Sign to honor fallen Marine

Portion of state Route 2 will be named after Willoughby native Bret Poklar

September is always an emotional month for Sue Poklar.

The resident of Orlando makes her annual trip back to her hometown of Willoughby for the Bret Poklar Memorial Benefit at Lost Nation Golf Course.

Poklar was a former Lake Catholic baseball player, Willoughby native and sports fan who died as a Marine in 2013. Since then, his family created the scholarship in Bret’s name and has raised thousands of dollars in scholarships for area student-athletes.

This year’s benefit is Sept. 16. The day before will be extra emotional for mother Sue, Bret’s father Terry and the rest of family and friends.

Sue said during a noon Sept. 15 ceremony, a sign honoring a

“When I found out, I just cried. Not because I was upset, but because he’ll always be remembered.” — Sue Poklar, mother of Bret Poklar

portion of Route 2 in Mentor and Willoughby will be unveiled in Bret’s honor.

Sue said she recently received news about the ceremony from state Rep. John M. Rogers, D-Mentor-onthe-Lake.

“I’m so grateful to John,” Sue said. “He made all of this happen.”

In May, Rogers announced the news to Poklar in a letter:

“Effective June 30, 2017, the portion of state Route 2 traveling westbound between state Route 306 and

Lost Nation Road ... shall be known as the L. Cpl. Bret M. Poklar Memorial Highway.”

Sue said isn’t sure how the ceremony will unfold. Getting a number of people on the side of a highway might be tricky.

“I don’t care if I have to drive my car off the side of the highway,” Sue said with a laugh. “This is so special.”

As will her return to Lake County be in a few weeks.

“When I sent the letter, I actually thought nothing would come from it,” Sue said in May after the initial news. “When I found out, I just cried. Not because I was upset, but because he’ll always be remembered. That’s what I was always

afraid of, that he wouldn’t be remembered. This means the world to me.”

The Sept. 16 benefit at Lost Nation Golf Course in Willoughby is from 2 to 10 p.m.

Tickets are $50 for adults. Those ages 17 and younger are free. The price is $100 for those playing golf on the day of the event.

The event also will feature special guest and UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, who was a friend of Bret growing up in Lake County.

Sports memorabilia will be auctioned off at the event, including a North Carolina helmet autographed by Mitchell Trubisky.

Poklar