Normally, the gratuitous renaming of a bridge or stretch of road is to a loyal longtime bureaucrat.

Sure, there are people deserving of recognition for their work, and for most of the world, it normally happens with a decent (when earned) retirement.  However, being eternally disappointed with the self serving ‘public service employees’ who find one way or another to pat themselves or their friends on the back, it’s a bit of a relief to see someone’s ( a genuine hero) name going on an impressive structure who has actually earned it.

BREVORT — An Upper Peninsula bridge was dedicated to Petoskey native and Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (Navy SEAL) Heath Robinson on Saturday.

Robinson was raised in Petoskey and graduated from the Petoskey High School in 1995. He was killed in action more than four years ago on Aug. 6, 2011, when his Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.

Robinson’s memorial naming was attended by a couple hundred, including family, friends, and multiple veteran honor guards.

Below are some photos from the service on Saturday.

READ MORE ►