By By Okon Ekpenyong
For Tonya Kelly, watching Gov. Mike DeWine sign legislation on September 3rd honoring two fallen Central Ohio service members was a meaningful moment — one she said reflected the importance of preserving the stories of local heroes.
“It was a true honor to stand alongside State Representative Meredith Lawson Rowe as Governor Mike DeWine signed two meaningful bills into law,” Kelly said.
“Representative Lawson Rowe continues to put her heart, soul, and tireless effort into serving District 5.
Kelly continued to say that the Representative’s relentless work ethic isn’t just about passing legislation; it’s about listening to families, preserving Reynoldsburg history, celebrating Black history, and making sure our community’s local legacy and military heroes receive the permanent honor they deserve.”
One of the new memorials honors Cpl. Lindsey William Mitchell, a Reynoldsburg native and Reynoldsburg High School graduate who served as a heavy-weapons infantryman with the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, during the Korean War.
Mitchell was killed in action in North Korea on Oct. 29, 1951, at age 34. A Purple Heart recipient, he is buried at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus.
Under House Bill 451, the eastbound lanes of I-70 between Brice Road and State Route 256 in Franklin and Fairfield counties will be designated the CPL Lindsey William Mitchell Memorial Highway.
The second memorial honors PFC Chris Dixon of Obetz. Per the representative’s office, the memorial grew out of Military Tribute Night at the 2025 Obetz Zucchinifest, where Dixon’s parents received recognition as part of the community’s Hometown Heroes celebration.
Dixon, a Hamilton Local Schools graduate, served in the Military Reserves before deploying to Iraq, where he lost his life during action in 2005.
House Bill 738, jointly sponsored by Lawson Rowe and Rep. Adam Holmes, designates a section of I-270 in Franklin County, between mile markers 48 and 52, as the PFC Chris Dixon Memorial Highway.
For the families and communities connected to Mitchell and Dixon, the designations represent more than signs along busy Central Ohio roads. They provide permanent public reminders that the lives and sacrifices of two local service members will live on forever. The new designations will be up on Sept. 23.
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