August 13, 2005

Daniel Boone highway honor restored!

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Photos courtesy of Kentucky Office of Creative Services

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After a two-year drive to put Daniel Boone’s name back on a Kentucky highway, Governor Ernie Fletcher signed an Executive Order on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 renaming Kentucky's U.S. Highway 25E "The Daniel Boone – Cumberland Gap Wilderness Trail."

In 2003 Daniel Boone’s name was removed from the "Daniel Boone Parkway" in SE Kentucky and replaced with sitting U.S. Representative Hal Rogers’ name. Since that time, the Boone Society, State Representative Brent Yonts, and several state politicians from both parties began a coordinated, bi-partisan effort to return Daniel Boone’s name to a Kentucky highway.

The Boone Society is pleased that Daniel Boone’s name is now on the most appropriate of all Kentucky roads to bear his name. U.S. Highway 25E roughly traces a large portion of the "Wilderness Road" blazed by Daniel Boone in 1775, opening the Western Frontier to settlement. What better way to return the honor than to put Daniel Boone's name on part of the road he built!

The Boone Society would like to thank Governor Ernie Fletcher, State Representative Brent Yonts, U.S. Representative Hal Rogers, Matt Hall (Office of the Governor), Justice John Roach (Kentucky Supreme Court), State Representative Marie Rader and politicians from both parties who helped restore this honor to Kentucky’s founding father.

Especially, the Boone Society would like to thank the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and people across the nation who overwhelmingly supported our effort by signing our online petition.

Sincerely,

Your friends at the Boone Society

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Related articles
Press Release from the office of Governor Ernie Fletcher
Daniel Boone reclaims his road in southern Ky -- Kentucky Post
Daniel Boone's name to go on Highway U.S. 25E -- Kentucky.com

Winner: Daniel Boone -- The Enquirer, Cincinnati.com

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