Governor McKee Signs Legislation Renaming Sakonnet River Bridge in Honor of Fallen Tiverton Soldier Staff Sergeant Christopher Potts
Published on Wednesday, June 11, 2025
PROVIDENCE, RI — On Wednesday, Governor Dan McKee signed legislation to rename the Sakonnet River Bridge in honor of Staff Sergeant Christopher Potts. Staff Sergeant Potts, a Tiverton native, was 38 years old when he gave his life in service to his nation in Iraq in 2004.
“Staff Sergeant Potts represents the very best of Rhode Island—dedicated, courageous, and committed to putting service above self,” said Governor Dan McKee. “This bridge will stand as a tribute to his bravery and a reminder of the true cost of freedom. With this dedication, we also honor the sacrifice of Staff Sergeant Potts’ family, whose strength continues to inspire us all.”
"We are honored by all who have made this day possible. It is our hope that motorists take note of the new name, maybe look up his name, and see the man he was. We are humbled that the state has made this possible, and our family is forever grateful," said the Potts Family.
The ceremony was attended by bill sponsors Representative Samuel Azzinaro and Senator Walter Felag, Rhode Island National Guard Brigadier General Andrew J. Chevalier, and retired Major General Reggie Centracchio, who was Adjutant General of the Rhode Island National Guard when Staff Sgt. Potts made the ultimate sacrifice.
“Staff Sergeant Potts represented the best of what Rhode Island has to offer, and while his death was tragic, the life he lived was full of valor, dedication, and selflessness. To rename this major Rhode Island bridge in his honor is a worthy tribute to a brave Rhode Islander who gave his life so that we all may live in a world free of tyranny and persecution. And now, hopefully whenever someone drives over this bridge, they will be compelled to look up who Staff Sergeant Potts was and discover how his legacy will live on in the state that he loved so much,” said Chairman Azzinaro (D-Dist. 37, Westerly).
“Staff Sergeant Potts was a true American hero, and his young life was tragically cut short at the age of 38 while he defended freedom and democracy abroad. Renaming the Sakonnet Bridge in his honor serves as a fitting reminder of what our service members sacrifice in order to protect the ideals and freedoms that we deeply cherish. Staff Sergeant Potts was a beloved member of the community, and this recognition honors the valiant and dedicated life that he lived,” said Senator Walter S. Felag Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton), Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Legislation & Veterans’ Affairs.
Staff Sergeant Potts was a member of the Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery of the Rhode Island National Guard for over fourteen years. He was a devoted husband to his wife Terri and a loving father to his sons Christopher Jr. and Jackson.
“SSG Potts was a dedicated Soldier, husband, and father. In the naming of this bridge, his legacy will endure and remind everyone who drives over it of his courage and service to our nation," said Brigadier General Andrew J. Chevalier.
“Staff Sergeant Christopher Potts was a true American hero who gave his life in defense of the freedoms we hold dear,” said Kasim Yarn, Director of Rhode Island’s Office of Veterans Services. “Every time we cross the Staff Sergeant Christopher Potts Sakonnet River Bridge—or pass beneath its span by sea—let it serve as a solemn reminder of his unwavering courage, his sacrifice in Iraq, and his enduring legacy. May his name and service to this great nation never be forgotten."