A portion of State Route 725 may soon be renamed in memory of Corporal Paul “Rocky” W. Zanowick, II, a Miamisburg Marine who was killed in Afghanistan in 2011.

Recently, Ohio Representatives Terry Blair, R-Washington Twp. and Jim Butler, R-Oakwood introduced a bill that would rename the portion of State Route 725, between Heincke Road and State Route 741, after Zanowick.

The 23-year-old Zanowick was killed in combat in 2011, in Afghanistan. He was Miamisburg’s first military casualty since Vietnam.

The bill was scheduled for a hearing before the House Transportation Committee this month.

Zanowick graduated from Miamisburg High School in 2006 and attended Sinclair Community College before joining the Marines in 2008. He was on his second deployment and serving as a vehicle commander and squad commander at the time of his death.

His parents, Paul and Nanette, and sister, Nicole, reside in Miamisburg. His wife, Ryan Lynn, and 3-year-old son, Uriah, live in South Carolina.

The Marine’s father, Paul Zanowick, said renaming the portion of highway was first mentioned in May 2012, while family members were attending a laying of the wreath ceremony in Columbus. Attending the memorial event were families and friends of soldiers who had died recently and Ohio government officials. A legislator asked the Zanowicks if they were interested in having a portion of a highway named after their son, and the family said yes. However, no action was taken.

In November 2012, Zanowick and his wife were back in Columbus to receive the Ohio Military Medal of Distinction that had been awarded to their son. They met with Rep. Jim Butler and said they were still interested in having a portion of the highway renamed.

“Corporal Zanowick was a fine Marine, and he dedicated his life to his country,” Butler said. “All of our service members deserve our utmost respect and gratitude, and we must never forget the price they have paid to protect our freedoms. It is my hope that by honoring Corporal Zanowick’s heroic sacrifice, we might be reminded of the thousands of other brave men and women who have given their lives in defense of the United States.”

“Too often the sacrifice of our citizens like Corporal Paul W. Zanowick, II goes without adequate recognition,” Rep. Blair said. “But how can our recognition of Corporal Zanowick’s sacrifice in the defense of liberty and freedom ever be adequate? We can only hope that the placement of a sign with Corporal Zanowick’s name along a roadway to his honor will bring pride and meaning to all of the lives of those who see it.”