Name parkway after a real hero

While I usually steer clear of politicians and politics, I feel I must speak on a subject now in the news - the River Watch Parkway. As a business owner and taxpayer within the city of Augusta, I cannot support changing the road's name to honor a politician - a living one, at that.

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Every politician from the state capitol to local government is talking of budget shortfalls to honor a crony. This is before we factor in the direct costs to local businesses that would have to change every item with an address on it.

If we must change the name of the River Watch Parkway, I suggest a simple sign at each end of the road honoring one of the following: Carl F. Nevils, World War II veteran and assistant fire chief for the city of Augusta who served the city for over 40 years; Susan Still, a local woman and world famous astronaut; old Mr. Hildebrandt, who served generations of Augustans at his family's grocery store after serving his country in World War I; W.L. Maddox, who at the age of 15 served in the U.S. Navy and was present at Tarawa - one of the bloodiest battles of World War II; R.O. "Snag" MaCann, World War II veteran and the first fire chief of the Richmond County Fire Department; or Aaron Morton, the first black fireman in the city of Augusta and one of the first Augusta firemen to lose his life in the line of duty.

My point is that if we have to change the name, let's honor someone whom our children can look up to as a hero - the unsung men and women who toiled for decades in virtual anonymity doing everything they could to make our great city a better place without ever asking for so much as a thank you.

M.E. La Pan II, Augusta