Politics & Government

Bill Would Name Local Road After Fallen Soldier

A proposal going to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's desk would name Route 120 leading to Anderson Hill Road in Purchase after Specialist Anthony N. Kalladeen, who was killed in action in 2005.

Route 120 in Purchase is one step away from bearing the name of a fallen hero.

Both the New York State Senate and Assembly have passed a bill that would rename part of the road leading to the Anderson Hill Road entrance of SUNY Purchase after Specialist Anthony N. Kalladeen, who was killed while serving in Iraq on August 8, 2005. Kalladeen, who was 26, had attended .

The name of the section of road will officially become "Specialist Anthony N. Kalladeen Memorial Highway" if the bill is signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The bill also names the new $20 million Chappaqua Bridge after Army Staff Sergeant Kyu H. Chay. The new bridge overlooks Chay’s family business, as well as the war memorial at the Chappaqua Train Station.

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That section of Route 120 will be re-named “Staff Sergeant Kyu Hyuk Chay Memorial Bridge.”

Robert Castelli (R) sponsored the bill in the Assembly and hosted a press conference to announce the bill's passage this week in Chappaqua.

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“I have great respect for the men and women who have fought to protect our cherished way of life in the Global War on Terrorism,” Castelli announced in a press release. “Dedicating two portions of Route 120 to these war heroes is just a small way of thanking them and their families for their sacrifice. This legislation allows Specialist Anthony N. Kalladeen and Army Staff Sergeant Kyu H. Chay to be remembered and honored daily for their contributions to the nation and community they loved.”

Kalladeen was from Purchase and attended SUNY Purchase prior to his deployment to Iraq. He was killed while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a member of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, when his vehicle was ambushed.

SUNY Purchase has since dedicated a space in a residence hall as “Kalladeen’s Corner.” 

Chay was a linguist assigned to the United States Special Forces Command. Born in South Korea, he grew up in Chappaqua after his family immigrated to the United States, where they opened a popular local cleaning business. Chay was three credits shy of graduation with a law degree from Brooklyn Law School before he was killed.

“As a Vietnam combat veteran and a father whose son has been deployed several times during the Global War on Terrorism, I have an understanding of the sacrifices these and other brave men and women have made in defense of our freedoms as well as the shared sacrifices made by families of service members,” Castelli said in the release. “That’s why I fought to ensure these two men are properly honored for their service to our great nation.”


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