It is well known that U.S. Highway 6 is the Grand Army of the Republic Highway that stretches East to West. In the Midwest, the highway winds through Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska... but not Missouri. In Missouri, highways are named for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Korean War Veterans, etc., but none specifically for the Grand Army of the Republic. With over 500 Posts that once operated in the state, it would seem appropriate that a highway in the state of Missouri be named in honor of the G.A.R.

The Department of Missouri, SUVCW, thought so, and at the 7th Annual Department Encampment in 2002, set itself on a course to make sure it happened. The Department tasked the Camps in Missouri to submit lists of candidate highways. At a Department meeting in March 2003, this list was prioritized, and as a result, the Department is pursuing I-44 from the St. Louis/Franklin County line to the Webster/Greene County line. This stretch of I-44 was submitted to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODoT) as the candidate to become the G.A.R. Memorial Highway. MODoT confirmed that it has not yet been named and tasked the Department to work with legislators in the affected counties to draft legislation to be introduced at the next Missouri legislative session. Questions on the G.A.R. Highway program or requests for additional information should be directed to the Program Coordinator: