By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – A section of Airport Road in northeast Bloomington is being named for U.S. Army Ranger Sergeant Josh Rodgers.

The Bloomington native died in combat two years ago while fighting ISIS in Afghanistan.

Rodgers’ family and friends, Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner, State Representative Dan Brady, and other dignitaries, gathered Friday afternoon for the bittersweet dedication ceremony on Airport Road, Near Fort Jesse Road.

Gold Star Mother Vonda Rodgers said the family is not superhuman. She said there have been tears this week as the U.S. Post Office in Uptown Normal has been renamed in Rodgers’ honor, and the Bloomington City Council earlier in the week proclaimed Saturday Joshua P. Rodgers Day, marking exactly two years since his death.

“Many times when someone dies, people ask, ‘why did they die?’ We very early on switched that question around to ‘why did he live?’ If our focus is on why did he live, then we see this week as really a celebration of his life,” she said.

Her son traveled Airport Road to go to Northpoint Elementary School and Normal Community High School. His mother wants people traveling that roadway in the years ahead to remember her son, and others who have served.

“Knowing that when people drive down this road, even a glance up to see and remember Josh’s name, not only Josh, think about the men and women that are still serving today, and also the men and women that have paid for the freedom that we all enjoy,” Vonda Rodgers also said.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]