Section of Highway 24 to be named after fallen veteran Sgt. Maj. James ‘Ryan’ Sartor

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- A portion of Highway 24 in Falcon will be dedicated to a fallen Green Beret who died in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Maj. James "Ryan" Sartor -- who was stationed at Fort Carson with Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion of 10th Special Forces Group -- died on July 13, 2019, after sustaining injuries from enemy fire.

The Falcon American Legion Post, and two El Paso County legislators worked to get the section of Highway 24 between Garrett Road to the intersection of Elbert Road will be called, "SGM James Gregory Ryan Sartor Memorial Highway."

His wife, Deanna, spoke to media for the first time since her husband's death. She said, "This is something he would have never asked for and never wanted for himself."

Sartor was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart after he died seven months ago.

"He was in the Army for the other soldiers, to take care of them, and ultimately that's what got him killed," she said.

In the weeks and months after his death, Mrs. Sartor says her neighbors in Falcon kept them lifted up.

Included in that group was Colorado State Representative Tim Geitner. He worked with the American Legion Post representing Falcon and Peyton to come up with this memorial.

Geitner says, "This is how we pay tribute to the service of fallen service members and their family to say hey we're going to remember this. This is not going to be forgotten."

Geitner introduced the resolution in the House at the Colorado State legislature for the name change on Highway 24. It passed in the Senate on February 11th.

On both ends of the 8 mile stretch of Highway 24 between Garret and Elbert Road will have a sign with Sartor's name and title.

"This is a very fitting road to memorialize for Sgt. Maj. Ryan Sartor. It flows right through Falcon where his home is and where his family still resides," Chip Kossow, Jr. Vice Commander at the Post says.

While many who drive by may not know the sacrifice Sartor made for our country, his wife it will mean everything to her and her family.

"I drive this highway every day to work and I just thought it would be an extraordinary honor to see his name up there every time I drive it."

The two signs need one more approval by Colorado Department of Transportation Commissioners before the signs go up before the end of the year.