SACRAMENTO REGION (MPG) - On Aug. 20, state Sen. Roger Niello and state Assemblyman Joe Patterson dedicated a portion of Interstate 80 as the Sergeant Nicole Gee U.S. Marine Corps Memorial Highway.

In a ceremony with members of Sgt. Gee’s family present, the two lawmakers paid tribute to the life, service and bravery of Sgt. Gee and unveiled the sign for the new memorial highway.

Now, the section of I-80 spanning from the Douglas Boulevard Overcrossing to the State Route 65 Crossing will be known as Sergeant Nicole Gee U.S. Marine Corps Memorial Highway.

When discussing the impact of the memorial highway, Niello said, “It has been my honor to be part of this journey of honoring Sgt. Nicole Gee and her service. As people drive on this portion of Interstate 80, we will all be reminded of the sacrifice, duty and commitment that Sgt. Gee has displayed so courageously on behalf of her country.”

 

Assemblyman Joe Patterson and Sen. Roger Niello welcomed family members of Sgt. Nicole Gee in Roseville on Wednesday, Aug. 20 to watch the installation of the Sgt. Nicole Gee Memorial Highway Signs.

Sgt. Gee was a Roseville native and attended George Sargeant Elementary School, Warren T. Eich Middle School and Oakmont High School.

During her academic career, Gee was a member of the softball team, participated in several dance classes and earned several academic achievements, including a certificate in bi-literacy, perfect attendance and honor roll status. She graduated with a 4.1 grade point average in 2016. It was also in high school where Sgt. Gee met her husband, Marine Sergeant Jarod Gee, and the two married after their graduation in August 2016.

In 2017, Gee entered into active duty in the United States Marine Corps. She trained throughout the United States, including stops at the School of Infantry-East in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and the Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School in the City of Twentynine Palms, California.

Upon completion of her training, Gee was assigned to the Combat Logistics Battalion 24 where she worked as a ground electronics transmission systems maintainer.

 

Assemblyman Joe Patterson and Sen. Roger Niello presented Sgt. Nicole Gee’s family with a framed copy of the signed legislation and walked with them to see the installation of the memorial sign together at the unveiling Wednesday, Aug. 20.

During her service, Gee became a black belt martial arts instructor, achieved a perfect score in her Combat Fitness test, earned an Expert Rifle Qualification Third Award and set weightlifting records at Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base. In February 2021, Gee was deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and soon was meritoriously promoted to the rank of sergeant.

Throughout her deployment, Gee served in Spain, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait. On Aug. 26, 2021, Sgt. Nicole Gee was tragically killed in action while serving in Kabul, Afghanistan. On this mission, Gee assisted in the evacuation of more than 100,000 refugees during the United States’ withdrawal from the country. 

For her outstanding service, Gee was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the NATO Medal.

 

On Wednesday, Aug. 20, Sen. Roger Niello and Assemblyman Joe Patterson honored Sgt. Nicole Gee’s legacy ahead of the four-year anniversary of the Afghanistan bombing that claimed her life. 

Throughout the ceremony, Niello and Patterson commended Sgt. Gee for her outstanding character, service and valor as well as recognized the sacrifices made by her family. It is both lawmakers’ hope that the newly unveiled signs will ensure that Sgt. Gee’s memory will not be forgotten so that it can continue to serve as an example of courage and selflessness.

William Segale is an intern in State Senator Roger Niello’s office. Niello represents District 6, which includes the cities of Galt and Herald in Sacramento County and Roseville in Placer County.