BRADENTON — Christopher Cobb, a local hero, born-and-raised Manatee County resident, and Private First Class Marine who was killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom on April 6, 2004, will be honored with a roadway memorial placed in his name.
PFC Cobb was a Purple Heart recipient and the first casualty of the Iraq War who called Manatee County home. He was just 19 years old when he passed.
Following the county commission’s recent vote to advance a plan to memorialize Charlie Kirk by naming a local roadway in his honor, Pamela Hodges, Cobb’s aunt, authored an op-ed encouraging commissioners to consider such local honors for hometown heroes with tangible ties to the local community.
On Tuesday, Commissioner Bob McCann heard Hodges’ request and put forward a proposal for commissioners to approve the honorary naming of the section of Prospect Road from Tallevast Road to Whitfield Road as the Private First Class Christopher Cobb Memorial Parkway.
Introducing his motion, McCann said, “We would be remiss in not honoring such a hometown, homegrown hero.”
His voice grew emotional as he continued, “He was very young. He died in uniform. He went to fight for our country, and he didn’t return. He gave the ultimate sacrifice, and he should be honored.”
In making his motion, McCann explained that the section of roadway he proposed should be memorialized in Cobb’s honor is an area where Cobb spent significant time while growing up in Bradenton.
A local county park, which was named after Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, Governor Ron DeSantis Park, resides on this same section of Prospect Road, proposed to be named in Cobb’s honor.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Commissioner Carol Felts pointed out this notable detail, reminding the board that in 2022, many residents advocated for DeSantis Park to be instead named after PFC Cobb, but the then-commission voted 6-1 to name the small local park in honor of the Republican governor instead.
Cobb’s aunt addressed the commissioners from the chamber podium before the vote and thanked them for taking McCann’s proposal to honor her nephew under consideration. She explained that, due to Cobb’s mother also having passed in recent years, she was there to speak on behalf of her nephew and their family.
“He was a native here, he completed school here, he was in ROTC here, and he was employed here. He was one of our own,” she said of Cobb.
“As you consider this proposal,” offered Hodges, “Just always remember, let’s do things in our county that unite our county in gratitude and create a legacy for generations to come… it might help to teach the meaning of Christopher’s sacrifice and service, along with all our other young men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”
The measure was approved by commissioners 6-0, with Commissioner Tal Siddique absent. A resolution that will finalize the action will return to the board for adoption during a yet-to-be-determined meeting date in November.
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RRICH69176
Finally the commissioners got it right..Christopher Cobb is deserving of the honor...naming the park after Desantis and the roadway for Kirk was divisive political theater .
Wednesday, October 22 Report this
jimandlope
Agreeeeeee!
Wednesday, October 22 Report this
WTF
Long overdue. Glad to see he finally gets the recognition he deserved 21 years later. It’s a high profile roadway with Kinnanh elementary next to it the park next to it firehouse across the street along with the church wonderful daily traffic that our local citizens and childrenwill be reminded of this sacrifices Christopher made for our country…. For the Record
Wednesday, October 22 Report this
Lktinsanfran
Thank you PFC Christopher Cobb for sacrificing your young life in protecting our country. I am happy you are finally being honored. RIP.
Wednesday, October 22 Report this