State Rep. Gary Day, R-187th, has announced legislation honoring a New Tripoli Marine who was killed in Iraq in 2007 has reached an important first step in the process of becoming law.

Day sponsored the legislation renaming part of Route 309 North in Lynn Township, in memory of Lance Cpl. Brandon J. Van Parys.

House Bill 2272, unanimously reported out of the House Transportation Committee Sept. 17, now goes to the full House for consideration.

"Lance Cpl. Van Parys heroically paid the supreme sacrifice for the country he loved," Day said.

Day added Van Parys was a true patriot, being motivated to join the Marines by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"I am hopeful whenever anyone travels along Route 309, they will remember Lance Cpl. Van Parys and be reminded of the sacrifice he made so we may all enjoy the freedoms he helped to protect."

On Feb. 5, 2007, in Anbar province, Iraq, Van Parys was tragically killed by a rocket-propelled grenade while his unit was attempting to secure an area along the Euphrates River.

Van Parys, age 20 at the time of his death, was a 2005 graduate of Northwestern Lehigh High School and was a member of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Force out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.

For his service and sacrifice to his country, Van Parys, who is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

He is survived by his father, Alan and his wife, Tammy; his mother, Catherine Hearn and her husband, Gregory; brothers, Christopher and Daniel Van Parys, Samuel and Jesse Hearn; and his sister, Ashley Hearn.

Under the proposal, the portion of Route 309 North in Lynn Township to memorialize Van Parys would include the highway between the intersections of Northwest Road and Long Court, and Mosserville and Mountain roads.