County pushes to name part of Route 98 in honor of Jason Johnston

Soldier from Albion was killed in Afghanistan on Dec. 26, 2009

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Elks Lodge in Albion dedicated this memorial for Jason Johnston on Aug. 17, 2019. The memorial is in front of the lodge on East State Street in Albion.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature voted today to ask the State Legislature to name Route 98 in the county in honor of the late Jason Johnston.

Johnston, an Albion native, was killed in Afghanistan on Dec. 26, 2009, the only solider killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan in the War on Terror.

Johnston was a specialist and paratrooper in the Army. He was on his second tour in Afghanistan when he was killed at age 24. He completed a 13-month-deployment in 2008 and left again for the war-torn country in October 2009.

The County Legislature is asking the state to name the Route 98 corridor in honor of Johnston, or a portion of the road in the county.

“Orleans County gives extreme respect to all of our residents who have served and are currently serving in U.S. military positions,” the resolution states from the Legislature. “Orleans County is especially sorrowful for those that have lost their lives while serving during any war, especially U.S. Army Spc. Jason Johnston.”

In 2014, signs were unveiled naming Route 98 in Genesee and Orleans counties as “Veterans Memorial Highway.” There is sign on Route 98 near the Point Breeze exit off the Lake Ontario State Parkway that was unveiled on May 22, 2014.

County Legislator Skip Draper said the Legislature would support highlighting a section of 98 in Albion in honor of Johnston.

Johnston is survived by his parents, Brad and Jenny Johnston; and his sisters, Carrie, Heather and Holly; and several nieces and nephews.

The Johnston family has been active for many years in the Albion Fire Department.

Brad Johnston joins the Albion Elks Riders for annual dice runs to help raise money for his a memorial scholarship in his son’s name. The annual $1,000 memorial scholarship goes to a student pursuing a career in a helping profession, such as a nurse, doctor, firefighter, counselor or other social services.

“The recipient of the award should be of good character, show dedication, effort and potential while working to the best of their,” according to a description of the scholarship. “Specialist Johnston believed in the Golden Rule – ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’”