Sergeant Andrew James Creighton Memorial Highway
Donation protected
On July 4th 2010, while America celebrated the birth of this great nation, Sergeant Andrew James Creighton gave the last full measure of his devotion when he fell in combat while conducting military operations in the Oruzgan Province of Afghanistan. He was a cryptologic linguist assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Base Lewis - McChord, Washington, and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan. This was AJ's first deployment in support of OEF-A. He was, however, a veteran of both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines.
The oldest of three children, AJ was born in Galveston, Texas, on 24 July 1986, and spent his childhood and teen years in Laurel, Delaware. He graduated from Sussex Technical High School in 2004 where he excelled in music and was a member of the all-state band and state wrestling team. As the Price of Freedom memorial outside the State Capital in Austin recalls, this native Texan volunteered for military service in 2004 as soon as he graduated from high school. Upon completion of basic training and the Defense Language Institute's Korean Program in Monterrey, California, AJ was assigned to 3rd Bn., 1st SFG (A) in April 2007.
AJ's awards and decorations include two Army Commendation Medals, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Parachutist Badge, and the Combat Action Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.
AJ was a patriot who recognized that the freedoms we enjoy are not free!
In honor of AJ's service and sacrifice, Sean Skipworth, Mayor of Dickinson, Texas, has signed a City of Dickinson Proclamation designating July 4th, 2021, as Sergeant Andrew James Creighton Memorial Day. Additionally, AJ's family has petitioned the Texas legislature to designate a section of State Highway 3 in Dickinson as the Sergeant Andrew James Creighton Memorial Highway. AJ's family has lived in Dickinson for nearly 40 years. His mother, two uncles, three aunts, and many of his cousins graduated from Dickinson High School ... and many of them still live in Dickinson, including his grandmother, whose address is on Highway 3.
Memorial highway designations in Texas require appropriate legislation to be passed in the House and Senate and signed by the Governor. Texas State Representative Greg Bonnen has sponsored House Bill 2678 and Texas State Senator Larry Taylor has sponsored Senate Bill 2010 relating to the designation of the portion of State Highway 3 in Dickinson as the Sergeant Andrew James Creighton Memorial Highway.
https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/HB2678/2021
https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/SB2010/2021
Legislation formally approving the memorial highway designation is progressing in the Texas legislature, however, tax dollars may not be used to pay for designing, manufacturing or installing the highway signs themselves. Those costs are borne by family and friends who support the effort. This GoFundMe is an effort to raise funds to pay for the Memorial Highway signs after the legislation is approved by Governor Abbott.
All donations that exceed the cost of the signs will be donated to the two scholarships set up in AJ’s honor and that bear his name.
I hope you will support this effort to honor AJ, his service, and his ultimate sacrifice in the name of our freedoms!
James O. Holley, Lt Col, USAFR, Ret
AJ's uncle
The oldest of three children, AJ was born in Galveston, Texas, on 24 July 1986, and spent his childhood and teen years in Laurel, Delaware. He graduated from Sussex Technical High School in 2004 where he excelled in music and was a member of the all-state band and state wrestling team. As the Price of Freedom memorial outside the State Capital in Austin recalls, this native Texan volunteered for military service in 2004 as soon as he graduated from high school. Upon completion of basic training and the Defense Language Institute's Korean Program in Monterrey, California, AJ was assigned to 3rd Bn., 1st SFG (A) in April 2007.
AJ's awards and decorations include two Army Commendation Medals, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Parachutist Badge, and the Combat Action Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.
AJ was a patriot who recognized that the freedoms we enjoy are not free!
In honor of AJ's service and sacrifice, Sean Skipworth, Mayor of Dickinson, Texas, has signed a City of Dickinson Proclamation designating July 4th, 2021, as Sergeant Andrew James Creighton Memorial Day. Additionally, AJ's family has petitioned the Texas legislature to designate a section of State Highway 3 in Dickinson as the Sergeant Andrew James Creighton Memorial Highway. AJ's family has lived in Dickinson for nearly 40 years. His mother, two uncles, three aunts, and many of his cousins graduated from Dickinson High School ... and many of them still live in Dickinson, including his grandmother, whose address is on Highway 3.
Memorial highway designations in Texas require appropriate legislation to be passed in the House and Senate and signed by the Governor. Texas State Representative Greg Bonnen has sponsored House Bill 2678 and Texas State Senator Larry Taylor has sponsored Senate Bill 2010 relating to the designation of the portion of State Highway 3 in Dickinson as the Sergeant Andrew James Creighton Memorial Highway.
https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/HB2678/2021
https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/SB2010/2021
Legislation formally approving the memorial highway designation is progressing in the Texas legislature, however, tax dollars may not be used to pay for designing, manufacturing or installing the highway signs themselves. Those costs are borne by family and friends who support the effort. This GoFundMe is an effort to raise funds to pay for the Memorial Highway signs after the legislation is approved by Governor Abbott.
All donations that exceed the cost of the signs will be donated to the two scholarships set up in AJ’s honor and that bear his name.
I hope you will support this effort to honor AJ, his service, and his ultimate sacrifice in the name of our freedoms!
James O. Holley, Lt Col, USAFR, Ret
AJ's uncle
Organizer
James Holley
Organizer
Dallas, TX