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Huffman attended Milton-Union High School and played football with Cole, who graduated with the class of 1982.
Huffman, who graduated in 1983, said Cole headed off to the Marines shortly after graduating. He died at age 19 along with 240 other U.S. military members.
“This was really the start of terrorism. In 1983, you never really thought anything like that would happen,” Huffman said Thursday of the destruction caused by suicide bombers.
“I still remember to this day my mom calling me and telling me,” Huffman said. “This legislation will commemorate his memory and the perfect devotion he gave in pursuit of protecting and promoting freedom.”
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The section of Ohio 55 to be designated in memory of Pfc. Cole goes by the house where Cole grew up.
The designation will be for the area of Ohio 55 starting at the intersection of Ohio 571 and extending to the intersection of Ohio 48 in the area of Ludlow Falls.
Huffman and another of Cole’s friends, Steve Smiley, testified before the House Transportation Committee in support of the designation.
“Marc L. Cole … was a typical young man growing up in the Midwest. He loved this mom and dad, his sister and their pets. He enjoyed sports and played football,” Smiley said in testimony. “He also had a tremendous patriotic love for his country and wanted to serve in the armed forces and, therefore, almost immediately after graduation enlisted.”
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