On what would have been her 22nd birthday, more than 100 people came to pay tribute to the late U.S. Army Sgt. Devin A. Snyder and witness the unveiling of a sign dedicating a portion of I-390 in her name. The portion is between Exit 2 in Cohocton and Exit 3 in Wayland.
Snyder was killed June 4, 2011 from a roadside bomb in the Laghman Province of Afghanistan with three other soldiers.
The ceremony began at 5 p.m. in Lawrence Parks Recreation Area Aug. 7, adjacent to her memorial stone and plaque there, which was dedicated on Veteran’s Day. Cohocton town supervisor Jack Zigenfus began with opening remarks; Rev. David Bernard gave an opening prayer.
Zigenfus stated that military service runs in the Snyder family. Devin’s brother, Damien, is serving in the U.S. Army; her sister, Natashia, is serving in the U.S. Navy; and her father, Edward, is a former U.S. Navy serviceman. Zigenfus then introduced the first speaker, Dave Seeley, Finger Lakes regional representative for Governor Andrew Cuomo, who read aloud a message from the governor.
“Through her extraordinary courage, selflessness and dedication to her fellow soldiers and our country, Sgt. Devin Snyder embodied the very spirit of patriotism and served as a hero to all New Yorkers and Americans,” the letter said. “The pride, honor and bravery in which she served earned our greatest respect and admiration, and her sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Joe Sempolinski, district director for Congressman Tom Reed, spoke next, stating that he has learned two important factors through Snyder’s tragic passing. The first, he said, was that freedom is secured through the very sacrifices of people such as Sgt. Snyder. The second is observing the way a small community such as Cohocton banded together to honor one soldier and support one family.
“It’s an honor, on behalf of the 29th Congressional District and Congressman Tom Reed to be here to express my condolences to Devin Snyder’s family, and to assure them that her sacrifice and their sacrifice is not in vain, and is taken with such profound gratitude by her community and a grateful nation.”
Assemblyman Phil Palmesano said it was an honor to bear the legislation for the memorial highway in honor of Sgt. Snyder. He called Sgt. Snyder, a hero and role model for Cohocton’s youth by, “the way she lived, the way she died, serving a country she loved so much, protecting the freedom for the people she cared about.”
On what would have been her 22nd birthday, more than 100 people came to pay tribute to the late U.S. Army Sgt. Devin A. Snyder and witness the unveiling of a sign dedicating a portion of I-390 in her name. The portion is between Exit 2 in Cohocton and Exit 3 in Wayland.
Snyder was killed June 4, 2011 from a roadside bomb in the Laghman Province of Afghanistan with three other soldiers.
The ceremony began at 5 p.m. in Lawrence Parks Recreation Area Aug. 7, adjacent to her memorial stone and plaque there, which was dedicated on Veteran’s Day. Cohocton town supervisor Jack Zigenfus began with opening remarks; Rev. David Bernard gave an opening prayer.
Zigenfus stated that military service runs in the Snyder family. Devin’s brother, Damien, is serving in the U.S. Army; her sister, Natashia, is serving in the U.S. Navy; and her father, Edward, is a former U.S. Navy serviceman. Zigenfus then introduced the first speaker, Dave Seeley, Finger Lakes regional representative for Governor Andrew Cuomo, who read aloud a message from the governor.
“Through her extraordinary courage, selflessness and dedication to her fellow soldiers and our country, Sgt. Devin Snyder embodied the very spirit of patriotism and served as a hero to all New Yorkers and Americans,” the letter said. “The pride, honor and bravery in which she served earned our greatest respect and admiration, and her sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Joe Sempolinski, district director for Congressman Tom Reed, spoke next, stating that he has learned two important factors through Snyder’s tragic passing. The first, he said, was that freedom is secured through the very sacrifices of people such as Sgt. Snyder. The second is observing the way a small community such as Cohocton banded together to honor one soldier and support one family.
“It’s an honor, on behalf of the 29th Congressional District and Congressman Tom Reed to be here to express my condolences to Devin Snyder’s family, and to assure them that her sacrifice and their sacrifice is not in vain, and is taken with such profound gratitude by her community and a grateful nation.”
Assemblyman Phil Palmesano said it was an honor to bear the legislation for the memorial highway in honor of Sgt. Snyder. He called Sgt. Snyder, a hero and role model for Cohocton’s youth by, “the way she lived, the way she died, serving a country she loved so much, protecting the freedom for the people she cared about.”
Palmesano then presented a photo from the signing of the legislation that allowed the renaming of the portion of I-390 in her name. He and State Senator Tom O’Mara were co-sponsors for the legislation that designated of the renaming of the highway.
O’Mara commended the service to our country by the members of the Snyder family, saying that it “exemplifies the American spirit.” He said that the highway signs will help bring public notice to the sacrifice Snyder made to her country. He presented Snyder’s parents with a framed pen certificate of the legislation signed by Gov. Cuomo on July 3.
Snyder’s parents then came forward, accepted the certificate and unveiled the highway sign, which simply reads, “Sgt. Devin A. Snyder Memorial Highway.” Two signs were made. One will be placed northbound near the Cohocton Exit; the second will be southbound near the Wayland Exit.
The national anthem was then sung by Bethany Adams and Sarah Zeh.
After the ceremony, Devin’s mother Dineen said, “I can’t say enough how appreciative we are for this being done...it makes me see that they do recognize the sacrifices of our servicemembers...we just appreciate it very much.”
The memorial signs have been posted on the interstate.
