Carbondale Reporter

CHRISTOPHER, IL – State Representative Dave Severin led a ceremony south of Christopher on Tuesday to rename a section of Highway 148 as the Firefighter Kody M. Vanfossan Memorial Highway. This change follows the passage of HJR 36 in the 103rd General Assembly. Severin was the lead sponsor of the House Joint Resolution in the Illinois House, and Senator Terri Bryant carried the legislation through the Illinois Senate. Both officials were present during the ceremony to offer remarks and honor Kody Vanfossan.

“I am honored to be here today to recognize Kody Vanfossan for giving his life in service to his community. My final memory of Kody was when I saw him at the Christopher Lion’s Club Pancake Breakfast when he was with his fellow firefighters. Words can only do so much, but our actions by marking this location in Kody’s name, that is really what helps to honor the sacrifice Kody made,” Severin said. “I am thankful to Senator Bryant for carrying this in the Senate, and for IDOT and local law enforcement and local fire protection districts for being here today and providing protection for today’s ceremony.”

Severin introduced Brent Vanfossan of the Christopher Fire Department who offered his thanks as well. Brent Vanfossan is Kody’s father and served alongside Kody on the day he lost his life fighting a six-alarm commercial fire in Christopher.

“Kody died doing what he loved to do, and we are truly thankful for everyone that came out today,” Vanfossan said.

State Senator Terri Bryant honored the Vanfossan family and thanked Kody for serving his community, noting that he died an "honorable man."

“This has been a long time coming,” Senator Bryant said, citing recent rules changes in the Illinois Senate that allowed the legislation to move forward. “We are setting that right today, and also celebrating a life that was too short but was lived in a way of sacrifice. As a mother of a former firefighter and a current police officer, when that tone goes off, your heart drops, and you can’t help but pray that the worst doesn’t happen. In this case, this was a young man who answered that call, and we will remember Kody as an honorable man and a man of service and sacrifice.”

The road renaming ceremony honoring Vanfossan took place at the intersection of Yellow Banks Road and Illinois Route 148 south of Christopher, adjacent to the cemetery where Kody Vanfossan was laid to rest following his passing from injuries sustained while fighting a structure fire in his hometown on May 5, 2019.

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