A local fallen soldier, Oklahoma National Guard Spc. Christopher Horton, was memorialized Saturday afternoon where he used to live in Owasso.
The street he lived on with his wife, Jane Horton, had a sign with his name printed on it placed above the street sign at
East 123rd Street and North 112 Avenue.
A plaque was also placed below the street sign to further explain who Spc. Horton was to the community.
Jane Horton has been looking forward to this dedication for months. Her neighbor, Ken Popitti planned the entire ceremony. He did not even know the Hortons until after he saw the story about Specialist Horton’s death on FOX23 News back in September when he was killed in Afganistan’s Paktia Province in a firefight. He was a part of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Poppiti asked Mrs. Horton if he could dedicate the street they all lived on to her late husband. She said yes and then Poppiti contacted the city and a local plaque company who donated the money to create the memorial. It took a few months and a lot of leg work but at 2:00 on Saturday afternoon, the patriotic street sign and the plaque were revealed with hundreds watching.
“It’s overwhelming,” said Mrs. Horton. “It’s huge honor. It means so much to me that people are honoring Chris. He really did give his all for us, so we could be safe and live peacefully, and that’s where his heart was. He wanted to make sure he would go over there and protect us.”
Mrs. Horton was touched by the community coming together for her husband but she said she will miss him the most.
“I miss him more than anything,” said Mrs. Horton. “I just want to thank him for all that he has done for me.”
Christopher Horton’s brother and sister-in-law, Nick and Jennie Horton are overwhelmed by the ceremony and the dedication.
“It’s very cool but it’s very strange at the same time, honestly I just want him back,” said Nick Horton.
Mrs. Horton wants people to accept the street sign and the plaque as a representation of the sacrifice that all the soldiers have made fighting for our freedoms.
The Owasso mayor announced at the ceremony that January 28th would be Christopher Horton Day.
Many local politicians were at the dedication, including Mrs. Horton’s dear friend, Senator Rick Brinkley, and the Owasso and Collinsville mayors.
Jane Horton has set up a memorial fund in her husband’s name. The account number is 305003622012 from Oklahoma at any Bank of America location in the country.
