It was with real sadness—and frankly disbelief—that I read about the proposal to name a road or area in Manatee County after Charlie Kirk. What happened to him was wrong, but that does not make him a hero, and he is not a son of Manatee County. Even if he owned property in this area, that alone is not a meaningful tie to our community or a reason to enshrine his name on our public spaces.
If we are going to elevate names on our roads, let’s start with the people who actually built the character of this place—Manatee County natives who served, sacrificed, and shaped our community. I’m asking you to consider one of them: my nephew, PFC Christopher Cobb, United States Marines, killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom on April 6, 2004, a Purple Heart recipient and the first casualty of that war from Manatee County. He was only 19 years old.
Christopher’s story is not a talking point; it’s the lived reality of a family, a community, and a country that sent a teenager in uniform to represent us, and never got to see him come home. My sister—his mother—has since passed away, and our family carries the torch for him and for others who truly deserve this honor. If any member of the county commission or other authority wishes to understand the weight of this loss, I invite you to sit with me and review the official records of his death. It will remind you that “naming rights” should not be a casual gesture or a political favor; they should be a solemn acknowledgment of service and sacrifice.
Public honors should meet public standards. Before attaching a name to a county asset, ask:
On each of these counts, a Manatee County native who gave his life for his country stands miles ahead of a public personality with tenuous ties to our area. Roads, bridges, and parks should teach our children who we value. If we use them to amplify a political figure instead of service, we will have told the next generation to admire notoriety over character.
This is not about erasing anyone; it’s about prioritizing our own. We have Gold Star families here. We have first responders and quiet pillars of our neighborhoods whose lives say far more about who we are than any outsider’s brand ever could. If you wish to honor courage, integrity, and duty, start with PFC Christopher Cobb—and with the other Manatee County heroes like him.
If the proposal to name a road after Charlie Kirk moves forward, it will be a missed opportunity to do what is right and rooted: to lift up those who genuinely belong to us, and to whom we truly belong. I urge county officials—respectfully but firmly—to reject this plan. Choose a name that unites us in gratitude and teaches our children the meaning of service.
If this gets approved, shame on a process that forgot its people. As a resident, I will oppose it at every level available to me—not out of spite, but out of loyalty to the community and to the memory of a 19-year-old who gave everything he had for all of us.
Honor our own. Name our roads for Manatee County’s real heroes.
Pamela Hodges is a 50-year Manatee County resident and aunt of PFC Christopher Cobb, United States Marines, killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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lib224
TRUTH!
Wednesday, October 15 Report this
David Daniels
Powerful!
Wednesday, October 15 Report this
graumli22
Yet every city has a MLK Blvd. And what about the many other fine, brave members of military the county lost in various wars? Or law enforcement who were gunned down? Perhaps no specially designated streets should be named in remembrance of anyone.
Wednesday, October 15 Report this
jwflossie
You have just expressed what many of us are saying. I have been a resident of Manatee County and for 70 years and there are many other heroes of our county who would be a much better choice
Wednesday, October 15 Report this
kmskepton
Naming a road after Kirk is our present-day version of a confederate monument. Divisive and unapologetically racist.
Ms. Hodges, thank you for taking the time to write a thoughtful, proactive piece. You are right on! So very sorry to hear of the loss of your nephew. This letter is quite the honor to him.
Wednesday, October 15 Report this
jimandlope
Christopher Cobb vs Carlie Kirk? No question who a road should be named after. Christopher is deserving Charlie is not . Jim Tierney a fellow veteran
Wednesday, October 15 Report this
deeweldon1225
Perhaps our military heroes could have their names enshrined on the streets of the homeless veterans subdivision. What happened to the names of Manatee County's dead from the Civil War? The county conveniently destroyed the monument, and apparently lost any and all recognition of and respect for Manatee County's dead. They too, were heroes of their day.
Charlie Kirk was an influential American patriot who spoke the Christian truth and was respected by millions. If it is unacceptable to name a road in his honor, then certainly we can remove the womanizer Dr. MLK Jr.'s name from it's honorary post. A minister who confessed his numerous extramarital affairs to his wife days after her hysterectomy, is not the kind of man our children should use as a role model.
Wednesday, October 15 Report this
nhughes
Before proceeding with any street naming, the county needs to come up with guidelines.
Wednesday, October 15 Report this
san.gander
Yes. The action of this one particular County Commissioner is so "disrespectful" and "insensitive" as to merit a call for his resignation as his removal from office. He is unable to serve and respect all the citizens of the county, which includes those with opposing views. Charlie Kirk was a man of highly divisive and politically partisan views and thus not an acceptable candidate to almost half the Manatee voters for county-wide honors. Proposing Kirk's name for such recognition is not seen by many as an act of respect for a fallen hero, but more of ...rubbing the opposing party's nose in the dirt, cause they can... the act of a bully!
Wednesday, October 15 Report this
travis.e.carlson
Thank you Ms. Hodges for writing this, may your voice be heard.
Wednesday, October 15 Report this
Debann
Christopher Cobb is More deserving hands down to have a road named after him....just another pathetic abuse power from the BOCC of sticking things in where it should not be...VOTE THEM OUT...let them be one term only Commissioner
Wednesday, October 15 Report this
Dianna
You are absolutely correct, public standards need to be met. We should be honoring only those who are worthy and deserving. The public should let their voices be heard by attaching their comments to the meeting agenda.
Thursday, October 16 Report this