GORHAM (NEWS CENTER Maine) — State lawmakers are expected to give their final approval to rename a bridge in Gorham in honoring of a Marine who died while serving at a Marine base in Arizona seven years ago.
This bridge over Route 112 in Gorham would be renamed the Joshua P. Barron Memorial Bridge. Barron's father chose the bridge because it leads to Standish where his son grew up. Barron says honoring his son is a way to channel his grief for his son's death. The 22-year-old was discovered in March 2011 in a canal with a gunshot wound to the back of his head.
Police ruled the death a suicide but the cause was "undetermined." His family tried to get the case re-opened pointing to evidence found at the scene but was denied by military investigators.
"I can't say it is a form of closure but it helps it's something to honor him more than our government did," Barron said.
Barron says he still has a private investigator working on the case but hasn't come up with any new leads. The bridge could be officially re-named in November the same month as Joshua's birthday.
Barron also started the Maine Fallen Heroes Foundation to support Maine's 30,000 family members who have lost loved ones during combat, accident or illness during active duty or reserve military service since World War II.
If you would like more information you can go to www.mainefallenheroes.org.