Wednesday, May 16, 2012

An Army pilot who died when his helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan is being honored with highway signs in his northwest Kansas hometown.

State officials and relatives of Chief Warrant Officer Bryan Nichols were on hand for Wednesday's unveiling of the signs in Hays.

The signs will designate the junction of Interstate 70 and U.S. 183 as the "CW2 Bryan J. Nichols Fallen Veterans Memorial Interchange." Kansas lawmakers approved the honors earlier this year.

Nichols, 31, was flying a Chinook helicopter on Aug. 6, 2011, when it was shot down in eastern Afghanistan. He and 29 other service members on board were killed, including 22 Navy SEALS and three Air Force Special Operations personnel.