NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. -- This moment was a year in the making. An honor well deserved. Route 840 in New Hartford is now the Officer Joseph Corr Memorial Highway.
"The signs I see every day and every day that I pass them, I just say ‘I love you Joe.’ It's hard to look at them and see the word memorial and it's also very nice," said his mother Kathy Corr.
The highway runs parallel with the Phillip Rayhill Memorial Trail. Rayhill was a lawyer and leader in town. New Hartford Police Chief Ray Philo says this location is very special.
"To have the Officer Joseph D Corr Highway and the Phillip P Rayhill Trail run parallel to each other is symbolic of progress and human achievement. Both of these individuals certainly enhanced the quality of our life," said Philo.
Officer Corr's mother says some days it is difficult for her to pass along the road, but her hope is that whenever anyone passes by the sign they remember her son's sacrifice.
New Hartford Police and the Department of Transportation honor fallen Officer Joseph Corr with a permanent memorial. Corr was killed in the line of duty two years ago. On Peace Officers Memorial Day, friends, family and fellow officers dedicated State Route 840 to Corr. Our Iris St. Meran was there for the dedication.
"I have been on trips places and I have seen signs of memorials and I do wonder what that person did. And I hope that people traveling this road would do the same," said Corr.
Joseph Corr was shot and killed during a pursuit along Route 840 after an armed robbery of a jewelry story two years ago. The highway will continue to be a place for his loved ones, especially his little daughter Kaitlyn, to reflect on his legacy.
"She wants to know where her daddy is. She does, she really does. It breaks your heart because she won't understand yet. But when she does she'll be the proudest child in the world to know what her dad did for the people of this community by giving his life to protect everybody," said Corr.