A freeway in Los Angeles was named after former President Barack Obama on Thursday.
A portion of Freeway 134 between the Glendale CA-2 and the 210 Freeway were named the President Barack H. Obama highway, CBSLA reported. The highway will run through parts of Glendale, Pasadena, and Eagle Rock, according to the news station.
The 44th President of the U.S. lived in Pasadena, California and attended Occidental College from 1979 to 1981. California State Senator Anthony J. Portantino announced he wanted to name the freeway after Obama in September 2017, KTLA reported. State lawmakers gave the final approval for the renaming of the freeway in September of this year.
“The President has often mentioned his fond memories of living in Pasadena and attending Occidental College, so it was very appropriate to name the portion of the freeway he traveled after him,” Portantino said in a statement on Thursday. “Our community came together to make this happen. It is an honor to be in a position to have helped facilitate this wonderful symbol of our collective respect for the grace and dignity embodied by our 44th President.”
There will be an official unveiling of the newly renamed freeway sometime next year, KTLA reported. Senator Portantino thanked residents for helping fund the signs and said the renaming of the highway would be a great way to ring in the new year.
“So many generous people can share in the accomplishment of this appropriate recognition of an inspiring, positive leader. I am very grateful to Caltrans for its rapid response to our community’s generosity by installing the signs before Christmas,” Portantino continued in his statement. “What a great way to bring in 2019. I hope to have a formal unveiling and program in the New Year to properly commemorate the President and our new freeway.”
Earlier this week, Obama visited patients at the Children’s National Hospital in Washington D.C., The Washington Post reported on Wednesday. The former president handed out different toys like puzzles, remote control cars, and nail polish, according to the publication.
“I know they will be talking about it for years to come,” Kurt Newman, chief executive and president of Children’s National Health System, told The Washington Post. “At such a busy time of year, when no one wants to be in the hospital, his natural warmth lifted the spirits of those kids, their parents and of each staff member he met along the way.”
Source: “Los Angeles” – Google News