HAVEN, Kan. — With the help of State Representative Joe Seiwert, a house bill (HB 2481) that passed that side earlier in the session has a hearing Wednesday in the Senate Transportation Committee.
This bill would designate K-96 between the east and west city limits of Haven as the PFC Henry Lee Fisher Memorial Highway.
Assuming the bill finishes going through the process, a fundraiser to raise money for the signs on K-96 will be held Thursday, May 9 at Baker Ballroom from 6 to 9 p.m. There will be a live performer, catered dinner, and a silent auction.
KDOT does all of the work and maintenance but the family must pay for the signs.
If you want to give toward the signs, call or text Jake Feil for more information at (620) 314-9570.
Below is the testimony of Jake Feil, Fisher’s nephew, as prepared for hearings in Topeka.
Henry Lee Fisher was born on May 31, 1947 in Haven, Kansas to Kermit and Chlodine Fisher. He was the second oldest of four children.
The Fisher Family were lifelong Haven residents and all four kids graduated from Haven High School with Henry graduating in 1965.
Kermit Fisher, Henry’s father, proudly served in the Army during WWII so both of his boys chose to follow in his footsteps and serve their country. Upon graduating high school, Henry enlisted along with two high school buddies.
Henry was rejected the first time due to a hernia that was found during his physical.
Perhaps he could have walked away right then but he chose to return to Haven, have the hernia repaired, and went back and enlisted.
Henry joined the Army and became part of the 16th Infantry- 1st Infantry Division and was eventually sent to the frontlines of Vietnam.
Sadly, he would never return home as PFC Henry Lee Fisher was killed in action in Vietnam on June 18, 1967. He was just 20 years old.
Like many of his ancestors before him, Henry Lee Fisher chose to serve his country and to defend the freedoms that we all enjoy to this day. It was a calling for him to serve his country. He gave the ultimate sacrifice doing just that.
To my knowledge there have been only (2) Haven residents that were killed in action while serving in our military, but just one of those lived his entire life there and that is my uncle, Henry Lee Fisher.
I never got the chance to meet my uncle Henry. I grew up on stories of him told to me by my grandma and my mother. I’ve been proud of him since the day I heard the very first story.
Henry had a chance to avoid Vietnam but he felt so strongly about serving that he went back after his hernia surgery. That to me shows just what kind of man he was.
Being a lifelong resident of Haven, it is only fair that we memorialize his great sacrifice. I am here today to ask the committee to designate the portion of 96 highway from the eastern city limits of Haven to the western city limits of Haven the PFC Henry Lee Fisher Memorial Highway and have a suitable sign erected at or near both the eastern city limits and western city limits of Haven.
