LANCASTER — The Lancaster City Council will consider doing its part in renaming the part of Avenue N to R. Lee Ermey Avenue that falls within the city’s boundaries at Tuesday’s meeting.
Ermey, who died last April at age 74, was perhaps best known for his role as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in director Stanley Kubrick’s 1987 film “Full Metal Jacket.”
The real-life Marine drill instructor, actor, military ambassador and longtime Antelope Valley resident was also well-known for his charitable work in support of the Marine Corps, military programs, veterans and others.
The city of Palmdale and the county of Los Angeles last year approved the name change of Avenue N from Sierra Highway to 60th Street West in honor of the local hero. Ermey’s daughter Betty Ermey and other dignitaries attended a public “sign raising” ceremony on Nov. 10 at the corner of Sierra Highway and Avenue N, the street closest to Ermey’s home of 20 years.
The Lancaster City Council, in order to maintain consistency, will consider co-naming Avenue N with the county of Los Angeles and the city of Palmdale. The name change will cover Avenue N from Sierra Highway to Agena Road. If the street name change is approved, the city will bear the cost of replacing signs at each intersection within our Lancaster city limits from the north side of Avenue N between 30th and 45th streets west. Cost is estimated at less than $600. The funds will be allocated from the Traffic Operations Signs and Marking budget.
By co-naming the street, the Avenue N designation will remain to allow the nine addresses assigned on the street continued use of their current addresses.
Supporters are well short of their $150,000 goal to raise money for R. Lee Ermey Avenue exit signs from the Antelope Valley Freeway, as well as to create a musical road that plays the first verse of the Marine Hymn in a half mile stretch of the road.
The city council meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers at City Hall, 44933 Fern Ave.
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(1) comment
I would love to see (or hear) a musical road installation. The funding for a musical road, which is more of a luxury, not an actual transportation improvement, should be funded of donated monies, as for the name change on the 14 fwy. should not be funded from donated monies. The State should be obligated and required to update freeway signs. We pay our Garcetti tax(es) on Measure "M", and Measure "R", as well as (former) Governor Browns "SB-!" in which all three of these bills are to fund transportation improvements. ** We also need to push for the 138 fwy. to be built now, not in the year 2050.
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