Drive alongside a stretch of Freeway 198 in Kings County, California, south of Fresno, and drivers will discover a part of it named after a fallen soldier from the world, who fulfilled his dream of serving the nation.
“As soon as he had a objective in thoughts, he was somebody who would work arduous to realize it,” mentioned Karen Covarrubias, who misplaced her brother, Army Specialist Juan Covarrubias in 2020. “He was an incredible and provoking man.”
Juan Covarrubias, 27, was killed by an enemy rocket assault at Camp Taji, a army base positioned 20 miles north of Baghdad, Iraq. The assault was in retaliation for a focused drone assault by American Forces at Baghdad Worldwide Airport which focused Iraqi Main Common Qassim Soleimani.
Covarrubias died doing precisely what he got down to do. In return, his household, buddies and group leaders labored arduous for the final six years to get an indication in his honor alongside Freeway 198. Final week, the stretch of street was devoted to Covarrubias in entrance of a crowd of household, buddies and dignitaries.
“I’ve very proud,” mentioned his sister Karen. “I did not understand so many individuals would be capable to come and witness such a present. That was wonderful to see.
However honor nearly did not occur.
Covarrubias was born in Delano, California, attended faculties in Hanford, graduated from highschool in 2010 and Lemoore School in 2017. He enlisted within the Army in 2018.
After Covarrubias’ dying in 2020, his household began the method of attempting to safe the freeway dedication with the assistance of a neighborhood assemblyman. It was authorized, however languished for years after the assemblyman retired, leaving the household at sq. one.
“A mutual connection put the household in contact with me and I made a couple of cellphone calls on their behalf,” mentioned Henry Perea, a retired Fresno County Supervisor who additionally sits of the board of the California Excessive Velocity Rail Authority. “Seems the paperwork was nonetheless on file. We simply wanted to boost about $8,000 to make signal and designate the roadway, which took about 4 months.”
The date of the dedication, Wednesday February 11, 2026, noticed previous classmates and comrades, household and buddies, officers and freeway patrol officers gathered for the historic honor.
“We unveiled it, and had a pleasant ceremony,” mentioned Perea of the Army Specialist Juan Miguel Mendez Covarrubias Memorial Freeway signal. “Some veterans attended, there was a flag elevating. It was simply stunning.”
Specialist Covarrubias’ sister Karen says it a becoming tribute for her brother, who paid the last word sacrifice.
“He was a soldier, not simply in kind, however somebody who took his function as a protector, a brother, pal, and son, very severely,” mentioned Covarrubias. “I hope folks will drive by the freeway signal and alongside the stretch of street and understand how particular my brother was, not solely to our household, however to the group and his comrades.”
Covarrubias is survived by three siblings and his mother and father, Alfredo and Monica Covarrubias.
