A section of State Route 14 in Yates County now bears the name of a local hero.
On Friday, State Senator Tom O’Mara and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano joined family, friends, veterans, and local officials to officially designate the “Sergeant James S. Hayes Memorial Highway” in honor of the late U.S. Army combat veteran from Penn Yan.
The highway runs from Plum Point Road in the Town of Milo north to Route 54 in the Village of Dresden. The legislation (S.1899A/A.6661) was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul in August, following a request by the Hayes family and Yates County Veterans Service Agency Director Doug Gibbs.
Sergeant Hayes, born in Geneva in 1983 and a 2001 graduate of Penn Yan Academy, served three combat tours overseas following the 9/11 attacks—one in Afghanistan and two in Iraq. A highly decorated soldier, his honors included the Army Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, and the Parachutist Badge.
He was honorably discharged in 2005 and returned home to raise a family with his wife Amanda and their two children, Damian and Rebecca.
Tragically, Hayes died in an automobile crash on Aug. 23, 2020, along the very stretch of road now named in his memory. He was 37 and had long battled post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following his service.
The dedication ceremony took place at Bravery Winery in Dresden, owned by Air Force veteran Corey Christman. It included the unveiling of new state highway signs and a tribute from family members and lawmakers.
“Sergeant Hayes was a hero and a patriot,” O’Mara and Palmesano said in a joint statement. “It is our hope that this designation will stand as a lasting tribute to his life, service, and sacrifice. This memorial highway reflects our collective respect for Sergeant Hayes and all those who serve.”
Hayes is also remembered for inventing the “Barrett Ball,” a durable dog toy named after his service dog and companion, Barrett. In 2019, he was honored at the Warrior Benefit Concert supporting local veterans.
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