The communities of Kingston and East Kingston have been honoring Keddy since his death through parades, memorials, dedications and tributes. Now another honor has come along.

State. Rep. John Flanders (R-Kingston), former president of the Rockingham County Law Enforcement Association, created a legislative bill last month to name a portion of Route 125, between Route 107 south and Route 111 south, the Melvin Keddy Memorial Highway.

This is the stretch of highway where Keddy lost his life.

"This is to honor him as a police officer," said Flanders, a former Kingston police officer. "That’s why I am putting it in. I am very happy about doing this because he was a nice guy."

Keddy was killed in September 1995 when he was hit by a drunken driver while assisting Kingston Chief Donald W. Briggs Jr. at a car accident on a stretch of Route 125 between Routes 107 and 111. Keddy was 54 years old.

The car was driven by Steven Balukas, then 34, who pleaded guilty to negligent homicide but never served jail time owing to good behavior and attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

The bill to dedicate the stretch of highway was co-sponsored by State. Rep Kimberley Casey (D-East Kingston).

Melvin Keddy

"I am delighted and honored when he asked me to co-sponsor because it’s still important to our town. It is the 10th year of his passing," Casey said. "It’s a great idea and I gladly support it."

Flanders wrote the bill with the help of state officials and had Casey co-sponsor the bill last month. The bill will first most likely go to the House highway or public works committee, then to the full House for a vote and then to the full Senate for a vote. The bill won’t be first introduced until the next legislative session in January. Flanders doesn’t expect this bill to be very controversial.

If the bill passes, that section of road would be deemed the Melvin Keddy Memorial Highway 60 days after its approval. Flanders hopes to eventually host a dedication ceremony and post signs on the road to memorialize the highway.

"The idea is to give Mel recognition where it’s deserved," Briggs said. "He died doing what he loved most - being a police officer. Mel was always the type of police officer to lend a hand to the community. He was a good police officer."

Retired East Kingston Police Chief Henry F. Lewandowski said Keddy was the most dependable officer who had no enemies. Lewandowski said he was always there when he needed him.

"He was a nice guy," he said. "Besides working with him he was a darn good friend. Everyone liked him."

The community last honored Keddy in 2000 with a memorial outside the Kingston Police Station by the flagpole. The police station memorial also honored the late Kingston Police Chief Neil R. Parker Sr., who died of a brain aneurysm.

The memorial replaced a white cross for Keddy that was placed by mourners on Route 125 near where Keddy was killed. The town was told to move the cross by state officials because it was a distraction for drivers.