Pennsylvania Act 2015-21 — MULTIPLE HIGHWAY, ROAD AND INTERCHANGE DESIGNATIONS

Act text

An Act

Designating a portion of State Route 309 North in Lynn Township, Lehigh County, between the intersections of Northwest Road and Long Court and Mosserville Road and Mountain Road, as the Lance Corporal Brandon J. Van Parys Memorial Road; designating a portion of State Route 2014 in Lycoming County as the Petty Officer Thomas Johnson Memorial Highway; designating a portion of State Route 61 in Schuylkill County, from State Route 443 to State Route 2014, as the Captain Jason B. Jones Memorial Highway; designating a portion of State Route 254 in Northumberland County as the Staff Sergeant Thomas Allen Baysore Memorial Highway; designating the portion of State Route 443 within the municipal boundaries of Orwigsburg Borough, Schuylkill County, as the Corporal David F. Heiser Memorial Highway; designating a portion of State Route 15 in Lycoming County as the Kelly Rae Mertes DUI Awareness Memorial Highway; designating a portion of State Route 153 from segment 80 to segment 310 in Clearfield County as the Austin M. Harrier Memorial Highway; designating a portion of State Route 422 in Lebanon County as the Officer Michael H. Wise II Memorial Highway; designating Exit 26 from the Mon-Fayette Expressway in Luzerne Township, Fayette County, as the Ronald F. DeSalvo Memorial Interchange; designating a portion of Davisville Road in Upper Moreland Township, Montgomery County, from State Route 611, also known as York Road, to Terwood Road as the PFC Robert S. Alexander Memorial Highway; and designating a portion of State Route 22/322 in Juniata County as the Honorable Daniel F. Clark Memorial Highway.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Lance Corporal Brandon J. Van Parys Memorial Road.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Brandon J. Van Parys was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, on November 2, 1986, and, in 2005, graduated from Northwestern Lehigh High School, New Tripoli.

(2) After high school, he attended Lehigh Career Technical Institute where he took courses in law enforcement.

(3) In November 2005, motivated by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, to serve his country, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

(4) Lance Corporal Van Parys was a member of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

(5) On February 5, 2007, in Anbar Province, Iraq, Lance Corporal Van Parys was tragically killed by a rocket-propelled grenade while his unit was attempting to secure an area along the Euphrates River.

(6) Lance Corporal Van Parys heroically paid the supreme sacrifice for the country he loved.

(7) Lance Corporal Van Parys was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for his courageous service to his country. He is survived by his father, Alan, and his wife, Tammy; his mother, Catherine Hearn, and her husband, Gregory; his brothers, Christopher Van Parys, Daniel Van Parys, Samuel Hearn and Jesse Hearn; and his sister, Ashley Hearn.

(b) Designation.--The portion of State Route 309 North in Lynn Township, Lehigh County, between the intersections of Northwest Road and Long Court and Mosserville Road and Mountain Road is hereby designated as the Lance Corporal Brandon J. Van Parys Memorial Road.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs to indicate the designation under subsection (b).

Section 2. Petty Officer Thomas Johnson Memorial Highway.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) On the morning of April 10, 1963, the USS Thresher began a deep diving test about 200 miles to the east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with the submarine rescue ship USS Skylark standing by overhead.

(2) The USS Thresher was less than two years old and was the lead boat in a new class of nuclear powered, fast attack submarines designed to be a weapon of deterrence at the height of the Cold War and was considered the most advanced naval vessel of its time.

(3) At 9:03 a.m., the USS Skylark received a garbled transmission over the underwater telephone reporting that the USS Thresher was experiencing minor difficulties.

(4) The USS Thresher and the 129 men it carried, including 17 civilians, never returned to the surface.

(5) The loss of the USS Thresher is one of the worst submarine disasters the world has ever known.

(6) After the tragedy, the Navy created SUBSAFE, a safety program that has ensured that no submarine passing through this process ever suffers a similar fate.

(7) Petty Officer Thomas Johnson was aboard the USS Thresher that day and sacrificed his life in service to his country.

(b) Designation.--The section of State Route 2014 in Lycoming County from Foresman Street in the city of Williamsport to State Route 220 in Woodward Township is hereby designated the Petty Officer Thomas Johnson Memorial Highway.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to traffic in both directions on the highway.

Section 3. Captain Jason B. Jones Memorial Highway.

(a) Findings.--The general assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Captain Jason B. Jones, a native of Orwigsburg, graduated with honors from Blue Mountain High School in 2003, having earned eight varsity letters.

(2) In 2007, Captain Jones graduated sixth in his class from West Point Military Academy with a degree in nuclear engineering.

(3) Captain Jones was awarded the Bronze Star for his performance during deployment to Iraq in 2008 to 2009.

(4) In May 2013, Captain Jones completed the Special Forces Qualification Course to join the ranks of the Army Special Forces, known as the Green Berets, and was deployed to Afghanistan in April 2014.

(5) While serving as commander of a 12-man Special Forces A-Team in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Captain Jones, age 29, made the ultimate sacrifice for his country when he was killed by small arms fire.

(b) Designation.--The section of State Route 61 in Schuylkill County, from State Route 443 to State Route 2014, is hereby designated the Captain Jason B. Jones Memorial Highway.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to traffic in both directions on the highway.

Section 4. Staff Sergeant Thomas Allen Baysore Memorial Highway.

(a) Findings.--the general assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Staff Sergeant Thomas Allen Baysore was a native of Milton, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Milton Senior High School.

(2) Upon graduation, Staff Sergeant Baysore enlisted in the United States Army.

(3) Staff Sergeant Baysore's distinguished 12-year career in the United States Army included three deployments to Afghanistan and one deployment to Iraq.

(4) Staff Sergeant Baysore's awards and citations include three Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, Valorous Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, four Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, three Afghanistan Campaign Medals, Iraq Campaign Medal with Arrowhead, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, NATO Defense Medal, U.S. Army Basic Recruiter Badge-Silver with two Gold Achievement Stars, three U.S. Army Basic Recruiter Badge-Gold with three Star Sapphires, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Expert Infantryman's Badge, Air Assault Badge, Parachutist Badge, Parachutist Badge with Distinguished Device, Bronze Service Star and Expert Marksmanship Badge.

(5) Staff Sergeant Baysore was most recently assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as a squad leader.

(6) On September 26, 2013, Staff Sergeant Baysore made the ultimate sacrifice in selfless service to his nation during combat operations in Paktya Province, Afghanistan.

(7) Staff Sergeant Baysore is remembered as a loving father to his son, Darren, a devoted husband to his wife, Jamie, and a cherished son and brother to his parents and sisters.

(b) Designation.--The section of State Route 254 in Northumberland County where it passes under State Route 147 to where it intersects with State Route 54 in Montour County is hereby designated the Staff Sergeant Thomas Allen Baysore Memorial Highway.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to traffic in both directions on the highway.

Section 5. Corporal David F. Heiser Memorial Highway.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Corporal David F. Heiser was born in Orwigsburg on September 2, 1947, and grew up in the borough. He graduated from Blue Mountain High School in 1965.

(2) In March 1968, Corporal Heiser answered the call of duty and enlisted in the United States Army to serve his country. He trained at Fort Benning, Georgia, as an infantryman and as an Army medic.

(3) In September 1968, he was promoted to the rank of corporal and was sent to Vietnam. His platoon was ambushed on February 2, 1969, in Binh Duong, Vietnam, and he was killed in action as a direct result of receiving enemy fire on that mission. He was serving as a medic for his platoon when his life was taken.

(4) Corporal Heiser received the Purple Heart medal for his fatal injuries in Binh Duong and the Bronze Star with Valor for his courageous actions that day. He is buried at Kimmels Church of God Cemetery in Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County.

(5) Corporal Heiser is remembered and honored on Panel 33W, Row 40, of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.

(b) Designation.--The section of State Route 443 from the eastern boundary of Orwigsburg Borough at State Route 443 and Faith Avenue through Orwigsburg Borough to the western boundary of Orwigsburg Borough at Seton Manor, Schuylkill County, is hereby designated the Corporal David F. Heiser Memorial Highway.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to traffic in both directions on the highway.

Section 6. Kelly Rae Mertes DUI Awareness Memorial Highway.

(a) Findings.--

(1) Born on January 23, 1986, in Williamsport, Kelly Rae Mertes was a lifetime member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, a recent honors graduate of Bishop Neumann High School and a gifted artist attending photography college in Lancaster.

(2) On February 5, 2005, Kelly Mertes' life was tragically cut short when, at 19 years of age, she was killed by a drunk driver nearly five times over the legal blood alcohol limit.

(3) Since the loss of their daughter, the Mertes family has for the last 10 years tirelessly supported the Lycoming County DUI Taskforce to prevent another tragedy from occurring.

(b) Designation.--The section of State Route 15 in Lycoming County from the Market Street/Hastings Street intersection to State Route 15/54 is hereby designated the Kelly Rae Mertes DUI Awareness Memorial Highway.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to traffic in both directions on the highway.

Section 7. Austin M. Harrier Memorial Highway.

(a) Findings.--

(1) Austin M. Harrier was born on April 7, 1912, in Shiloh, Pennsylvania, and died on September 24, 2000.

(2) In 1930, Austin Harrier graduated from Clearfield High School, and in 1936 he graduated from Lock Haven State Teachers College.

(3) After working for 15 years as a teacher and later as an insurance agent and manager, Mr. Harrier was elected to represent the citizens of the 74th District of the House of Representatives.

(4) Representative Harrier served as State representative from 1962 through 1974, during which time he worked to secure funding for the construction of State Route 153.

(b) Designation.--The section of State Route 153 in Clearfield County from segment 80 to segment 310 is hereby designated the Austin M. Harrier Memorial Highway.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to traffic in both directions on the highway.

Section 8. Officer Michael H. Wise II Memorial Highway.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Officer Michael H. Wise II was born and raised in Lebanon County. He graduated in 1990 from Cedar Crest High School and in 1993 from the Center for Emergency Medicine in Pittsburgh.

(2) After serving as an EMT and paramedic in Lebanon, and later for six years in Pittsburgh, Officer Wise returned to his roots in Lebanon County and settled in Myerstown.

(3) In 2002, Officer Wise fulfilled his lifelong dream of a career in law enforcement when he was hired as a police officer by the City of Reading and graduated from the Reading Police Academy.

(4) Officer Wise was tragically killed in the line of duty on June 5, 2004.

(5) Officer Wise is survived by his wife, daughter, parents, sister and extended family.

(6) Officer Wise's memory lives on through the Michael H. Wise II Foundation.

(b) Designation.--The section of State Route 422 in Lebanon County from Ramona Road to the Lebanon/Berks County line is hereby designated the Officer Michael H. Wise II Memorial Highway.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to traffic in both directions on the highway.

Section 9. Ronald F. DeSalvo Memorial Interchange.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Ronald F. DeSalvo honorably served as a township supervisor in Luzerne Township, Fayette County, for 18 years.

(2) Supervisor DeSalvo was instrumental in leading the effort to have the Mon-Fayette Expressway completed, including a section that runs through Luzerne Township.

(3) Supervisor DeSalvo passed away on April 6, 2013.

(b) Designation.--Exit 26 from the Mon-Fayette Expressway in Luzerne Township, Fayette County, is hereby designated the Ronald F. DeSalvo Memorial Interchange.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the interchange.

Section 10. PFC Robert S. Alexander Memorial Highway.

(a) Designation.--The section of Davisville Road in Upper Moreland Township, Montgomery County, from State Route 611, also known as York Road, to Terwood Road, is hereby designated the PFC Robert S. Alexander Memorial Highway for PFC Alexander's service and sacrifice during the Vietnam War.

(b) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to traffic in both directions on the highway.

Section 11. The Honorable Daniel F. Clark Memorial Highway.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Daniel F. Clark was a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 82nd Legislative District from 1989 until 2002. The 82nd District includes all of Juniata County and portions of Mifflin and Franklin Counties.

(2) A native of Mifflintown, Dan was a 1972 graduate of East Juniata High School, 1976 graduate of Lycoming College, and 1979 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law.

(3) Dan was well known for his dedication as a public servant. He served as the Juniata County District Attorney from 1984 to 1988 and was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1988.

(4) Representative Clark served as the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts where he was appointed as one of the lead prosecutors in the case to impeach Supreme Court Justice Rolf Larsen. His involvement was described as a "footnote to history".

(5) Representative Clark was also a tireless advocate for expanding the Route 322 corridor during his time in the legislature. He recognized the need for infrastructure investment in the region and put in the hard work to make sure it happened. To Dan's credit, his vision for a modernized transportation corridor in central Pennsylvania came to fruition and brought with it a better quality of life for many central Pennsylvanians and more opportunities for economic development and prosperity in the region.

(6) Dan would return again to the House of Representatives in December 2010 to serve as Chief Counsel to the House Republican Appropriations Committee.

(7) Dan Clark was well respected in his community and enjoyed traveling, playing golf, Penn State football and spending time with his family.

(8) Sadly, on September 28, 2014, Dan Clark passed away at home surrounded by his family.

(9) He is survived by his loving wife, Debbie, and his children, Benjamin, Anna and Liz. He is also survived by two brothers, Thomas and David, step-daughters, Valerie and Jessica, and step-grandchildren, Tino and Alanna.

(b) Designation.--The section of State Route 22/322 in Juniata County from the Mifflintown exit to the Juniata/Perry County Line, State Route 22/322 eastbound segment 180/offset 2469 to segment 450/offset 2616 and State Route 22/322 westbound segment 191/offset 0000 to segment 451/offset 2507, is hereby designated the Honorable Daniel F. Clark Memorial Highway.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to traffic in both directions on the highway.

Section 12. Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.