Local Marine Honored In Bridge Dedication

Posted: June 20, 2008 07:23 AM

FAIRVIEW, Tenn. - A bridge in Williamson County now bears the name of a Middle Tennessee man killed while fighting for America in Iraq.

The Highway Bridge on Highway 96 and Highway 100 in Fairview was dedicated to the memory of Marine Cpl. Richard Buerstetta.

The Franklin High School graduate was killed in Iraq in October, 2006.

Buerstetta and five other marines, all from Tennessee, were in a Humvee in the Anbar province when they hit an -ED buried under the road.

Buerstetta and fellow marine Tyler Overstreet died.

Two of the Marines who were in that Humvee, George Henry and Eric Frazier, were at Thursday's ceremony remembering Buerstetta's bravery.

"He was the nicest person. He was personally my hero. I wanted to be just like him. And seeing something like this I got great appreciation for the people supporting it," said one of the Marines.

Henry and Frazier were both injured so badly in that crash they were declared dead on the scene, but medics were able to revive them.

Ellie