Benton Co. Bridge Dedicated To Sonny Melton

By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Big Sandy, Tenn.–A large crowd of family, friends and officials was on hand for the dedication of the Sonny Melton Bridge on Lower Sandy River Road in Benton County Tuesday afternoon.
Melton lost his life in the mass shooting in Las Vegas in October of 2017. He died shielding his wife, Heather, from the bullets that killed 58 and wounded hundreds who were attending a music festival that night.
Sonny’s Dad, James, said it was fitting that the bridge was dedicated to Sonny because Sonny used to play in the creek and fields near the bridge. “Nothing would have tickled him more than having this bridge named for him.”

Susan Melton, Sonny’s Mom, spoke of how humbling it was for the family that people still care so much. She said the family was taken by surprise when the county road department officials called them two weeks ago to tell them of their plans to dedicate the bridge for Sonny. “We were just overwhelmed,” she said, “but it was so humbling, too. There was so much pride, so much honor that we feel that Benton County still cares enough to do something like this.”

Benton County Road Supervisor Buck Carter told the crowd that construction of a new bridge on the road “has been a long time coming.” He said as the bridge was being completed, Assistant Supervisor Scotty Hollowell came to him and suggested the bridge be dedicated for Sonny. “I couldn’t think of a better way” to remember Sonny, he said. Carter noted the “legacy that Sonny left. He was a true hero.”
Heather Melton, Sonny’s wife, said, “I always feel so immensely proud of Sonny and the man he was. I know how important he was to this community and how important this community was to him. This is a great symbol of that.”
Also in attendance was County Sheriff Kenny Christopher, County Mayor Brett Lashlee and District Attorney Matt Stowe.
Photos: Top photo–Sonny’s family with County Road Supervisor Buck Carter and Assistant Supervisor Scotty Hollowell; bottom photo–Sonny’s mother, Susan, addresses the crowd. (Shannon McFarlin photos).