The longest highway in the U.S., Route 20, now officially honors Medal of Honor recipients thanks to the efforts of advocates and veterans’ groups.

Among them is MOAA member Lt. Col. Keith Beebe, USA (Ret), who has been involved in the project for several years after learning about it from fellow MOAA member Lt. Col. Dick Tobiason, USA (Ret), of Oregon. Tobiason initiated the highway memorial program through his nonprofit Bend Heroes Foundation.

[RELATED: MOAA Members Share State Advocacy Successes, Challenges in Virtual Forum]

Over the past eight years, advocates worked to get each of the 12 states Route 20 runs through — from Oregon to Massachusetts — to designate their section as their state's Medal of Honor Highway. 

Beebe, a past president of MOAA’s Pennsylvania Council of Chapters and the MOAA delegate on the legislative committee of the Pennsylvania War Veterans Council, led his state’s effort. He credits his success to his connections through the veterans council and his proximity to the state capital of Harrisburg.

“That involvement gave me the credibility I needed,” Beebe said. “I then went just across the river to the state capital and spoke with someone from the House Veterans' Affairs Committee who put me in touch with state Rep. Parke Wentling, who has Route 20 within his district.”

[RELATED: MOAA Changemakers: Lt. Col. Dick Tobiason, USA (Ret)]

Beebe worked with Wentling to sponsor legislation to establish the Pennsylvania Medal of Honor Highway. The legislation passed unanimously and was signed by the governor, and the highway was dedicated Aug. 26, 2022 — Beebe’s birthday.

A year later, Massachusetts became the 12th and final state to dedicate its portion of the highway, setting the wheels in motion for a national highway.

“I did almost the obvious next,” Beebe explained. “Here’s Mike Kelly, a representative from Pennsylvania who has the state’s entire section of Route 20 within his district. Of course he’s the ideal person to [sponsor legislation].”

With the help of MOAA chapters, who sent letters to members of Congress asking for support, the legislation passed the Senate in December 2023 and the House Dec. 9, 2024. On Dec. 17, President Joe Biden signed the bill to designate Route 20 as the National Medal of Honor Highway.

The highway honors the more than 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients and any future recipients from all 50 states and territories.

[RELATED: Help MOAA Shine the Spotlight on More Members This Year]

“It’s my sincere hope that the millions of Americans who travel the highway each year — from Bend to Chicago to Erie to Boston — will take a moment to reflect on the extraordinary sacrifice, courage, and devotion exhibited by every single Medal of Honor recipient. We owe them a debt we can never repay. Designating this highway is just one way and we can cement their legacy in American history,” said Kelly in a statement following the bill’s passage.

Beebe said it “feels very good” to have successful completed the effort.

“This is just outstanding,” he said. “To be able to take this and be a part of this and to literally let the public know and be able to remind them of the sacrifice of these recipients, this is an honor.”