County seeks to name section of 31A in honor of Jason Johnston

Soldier from Albion was killed by roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2009

Jason Johnston

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is seeking to have a section of Route 31A named in honor of Jason Johnson, a soldier from Albion who was killed in combat in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb on Dec. 26, 2009.

Johnson was a specialist and paratrooper with the U.S. Army. He was 24 when he was killed. He is the only soldier from Orleans County killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan during the War on Terror.

The Legislature last June sought to have Route 98 in Orleans County named for Johnston. The State Legislature and Go. Hochul need to give their approval.

The County Legislature on Tuesday rescinded that resolution from last year because 98 already has been named the “Veterans Memorial Highway.”

The Legislature now is asking the state to name the Route 31A corridor between Powerline Road to Route 98 in Albion in memory of Johnston.

Legislators asked State Sen. Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Steve Hawley to take up the issue in the Legislature.

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