Last Remaining Section of I-70 South Service Road Renamed to Honor Veterans

It's one of those moments that makes you love your job.

During Wednesday night's meeting of the Wentzville Board of Aldermen, the aldermen voted to change the name of the the last remaining piece of Interstate 70's South Service Road to Veterans Memorial Parkway. According to city staff, the process is also being undertaken for sections of South Service Road in unincorporated St. Charles County and the City of Foristell.

I was sitting in the back of the room, taking notes on my MacBook. The minute that the gavel came down, I signed onto Facebook and posted a message on the Facebook page for Lake St. Louis VFW Post 10350.

Wentzville just passed the resolution for the renaming of the last stretch of South Service Road in St. Charles County to Veterans Memorial Parkway. Congratulations, Ralph Barrale!

The quest to rename the roadway was a project that World War II veteran Ralph Barrale had taken on in 1998. St. Peters was the first city to approve Ralph's request for the change to Veterans Memorial Parkway.

I'd gotten the chance to meet Ralph early last year and learn about the amazing work that he and his wife Rose have done.

READ MORE: Lake Saint Louis' Champion for Veteran Recognition Looks to the Future

Eventually the name change went into effect from St. Charles at the east end of the county, through St. Peters and O'Fallon and then west to Lake Saint Louis. But the campaign hid a roadblock in Wentzville, where the change was not approved.

Barrale went back to the Wentzville Board of Aldermen in June to ask again that the name change be considered. This time, city staff recommended the change, citing approval of the change by EMS and Fire District personnel in the interest of safety and efficiency and also "in recognition of the Veterans who have served."

Minutes after sending my Facebook message, I heard back from Ralph Barrale.

Tammy, Thank you for the info. After all the years Veterans Memorial Parkway is complete. This is a great day for all Veterans in St. Charles County,and a BIG Honor to all.
Ralph Barrale