Highway Naming Proposed for Fort Drum Connector

       The Interstate spur connecting I-81 and Fort Drum is nearing completion and already there is a move afoot to name I-781 after someone. 
        In this case, it's a well liked and respected retired general named Paul Cerjan, who died recently and was a part of the original planning of the new Fort Drum in the 1980s. Legislation has been introduced in Albany to do just that.
        If one is interested in naming infrastructure, there is always the late Rep. Bob McEwen, who was a tireless lobbyist for expansion on Drum before the 10th Mountain Division was thought of.
       Or there is always something more generic like Pine Camp Expressway in honor of what the sprawling post used to be called.
       Or there is the option of just leaving it as I-781, one of many spurs connecting this and that around America's cities. Most people will just call it the Fort Drum connector.
        It's always difficult and emotional to consider naming a public project and sometimes the passing of time lends a more dispassionate view.