Pennsylvania Act 2015-29 — MULTIPLE BRIDGE DESIGNATIONS

Act text

An Act

Designating the Conodoguinet Bridge on that portion of State Route 641 over the Conodoguinet Creek, Hopewell Township, Cumberland County, as the Army Pfc. Harold "Sam" E. Barrick Memorial Bridge; designating the bridge located on that portion of State Route 865, over the railroad tracks and Main Street in Bellwood, Blair County, as the Dominec M. "Patsy" Padula Memorial Bridge; designating the bridge on that portion of State Route 940 over Tobyhanna Creek (Pocono Lake) in Tobyhanna Township, Monroe County, as the Sullivan Bridge; designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 155 over the Allegheny River, Port Allegany Borough and Liberty Township, McKean County, as the Port Allegany Veterans Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge on that portion of Local Route T-325 over the Allegheny River, Coudersport Borough, Potter County, as the Lt. William E. Daisley, Jr., Memorial Bridge; designating the bridge on that portion of State Route 3005 over the outlet of Lily Lake, Conyngham Township, Luzerne County, as the Senior Officer Eric J. Williams Memorial Bridge; designating the bridge on that portion of State Route 3005 over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, Greenwood Township, Clearfield County, as the 1st Lieutenant Wendell Elbert Ross Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 3007 over the Redbank Creek, Summerville Borough, Jefferson County, as the Summerville Veterans Memorial Bridge; and renaming the bridge on that portion of U.S. Route 219 over U.S. Route 422 in Ebensburg Borough, Cambria County, as the Alexander Miller Abercrombie Memorial Bridge.

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

Section 1. Army Pfc. Harold "Sam" E. Barrick Memorial Bridge.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds that:

(1) Harold "Sam" E. Barrick was born on December 16, 1947, in Newville, Cumberland County, and graduated from Big Spring High School in 1965.

(2) He joined the United States Army and entered the service in August 1967 and served with the American division in Vietnam beginning January 1968.

(3) Pfc. Harold "Sam" E. Barrick was killed in action in Vietnam on April 8, 1968.

(4) Prior to his death, Pfc. Barrick was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon.

(5) He also received the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the Good Conduct Medal, which were awarded posthumously.

(b) Designation.--The Conodoguinet Bridge located on State Route 641 in Hopewell Township, Cumberland County, over the Conodoguinet Creek is hereby designated the Army Pfc. Harold "Sam" E. Barrick Memorial Bridge.

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

Section 2. Dominec M. "Patsy" Padula Memorial Bridge.

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

(1) Technician 4th Grade Dominec Michele Padula served with Headquarters Company 629th Tank Destroyer Battalion, United States Army, in the European Theater during World War II.

(2) He was inducted into service on December 10, 1941, and served until honorably discharged on October 27, 1945. His foreign service was from January 9, 1944, until October 13, 1945.

(3) Dominec Padula received five Bronze Stars during the following World War II campaigns:

(i) Normandy, Omaha Beach.

(ii) Northern France.

(iii) Rhineland.

(iv) Ardennes, Battle of the Bulge.

(v) Central Europe.

(4) Additionally, he earned the following medals:

(i) Good Conduct Medal.

(ii) American Theater Service Medal.

(iii) European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.

(5) Dominec Padula was born in the Reightown section of Bellwood on February 23, 1919, of immigrant parents from Aquaviva D'Isernia, Italy. He married Evelyn Snyder and was the father of Michael Richard Padula and David Allen Padula, grandfather to Bethany Louise (nee) Padula Mallino and Benjamin David Padula and great-grandfather to Margaret Kathryn Mallino and Abigail Louise Mallino. He passed away May 5, 2008, in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

(6) He worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad at several locations, including the Juniata Shops, Altoona's Freight and Caboose shops and the Samuel Rea Shops in Hollidaysburg. He was employed from March 31, 1941, with a gap in employment for World War II, until he retired on May 27, 1980, with over 39 years of employment.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on that portion of State Route 865, over the railroad tracks and Main Street in Bellwood, Blair County, is designated the Dominec M. "Patsy" Padula Memorial Bridge.

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

Section 3. Sullivan Bridge.

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

(1) In 1779, General George Washington ordered General John Sullivan to take approximately 30% of the Continental Army into Upstate New York. The purpose was to quash the aligned British and Six Nations of the Iroquois, who were invading Wilkes-Barre, killing hundreds of military and civilians. The ultimate goal of the British was to gain control of the Susquehanna River from Upstate New York to Baltimore, splitting the colonies to end the rebellion.

(2) As the Army gathered in Easton, there was no road over the Pocono Mountains to accommodate thousands of troops, horses, wagons, cannons and supplies. Two regiments of 500 military road builders accomplished the task in just six weeks, from Tannersville to Wilkes-Barre. It was a desolate area of forests and swamps, requiring a Herculean effort with just hand tools. The worst section, known as the Great Swamp, was located in what is now Tobyhanna Township. The only bridge the military road builders needed to construct for the new road was over the Tobyhanna Creek. It was immediately named Sullivan Bridge by the construction army. Through the years, the bridge naming was forgotten and should rightfully be restored.

(3) Sullivan's Expedition was a success, remarkably with fewer than 50 fatalities. It stopped the British in their tracks, contributing significantly to the birth of our nation. Equally impressive is that the new road, Sullivan's Trail over the Pocono Mountain, opened the region to settlement and development by connecting northeastern Pennsylvania and Upstate New York to the Philadelphia area and its port.

(4) Today, Sullivan Bridge continues to significantly serve the region. State Route 940 provides important access to western Monroe County and points beyond. It serves as the major alternative to Interstate 80 in cases of emergencies on the heavily traveled interstate highway. It is at the center of recreational tourism for the Poconos, allowing thousands to enjoy the streams, lakes, forests and all that abounds in the area.

(5) The bridge, named for General John Sullivan, represents the northeastern Pennsylvania region's vital role in preserving over time our nation's independence.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on that portion of State Route 940, over Tobyhanna Creek (Pocono Lake) in Tobyhanna Township, Monroe County, is hereby designated the Sullivan Bridge.

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

Section 4. Port Allegany Veterans Memorial Bridge.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares that Port Allegany Borough and Liberty Township wish to honor their citizens who have served or are currently serving our nation in the armed forces.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 155 at segment 0160 offset 2314 over the Allegheny River, Port Allegany Borough and Liberty Township, McKean County, is hereby designated as the Port Allegany Veterans Memorial Bridge.

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

Section 5. Lieutenant William E. Daisley, Jr., Memorial Bridge.

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

(1) Lt. William E. Daisley, Jr., was an outstanding scholar, role model and athlete at Coudersport Area High School.

(2) Lt. Daisley accepted appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated with high honors.

(3) Lt. Daisley was an A-6 pilot and landing signal officer assigned to Attack Squadron 34.

(4) On March 15, 1993, Lt. Daisley and Lieutenant Commander Fred D. Dillingham were conducting an F-14 familiarization flight as part of a training exercise off the coast of North Carolina and their plane failed to return.

(5) Navy and Coast Guard aircraft started search and rescue operations and the wreckage from the F-14 was spotted later that afternoon 20 miles east of Nags Head, North Carolina, and the aviators' bodies were never recovered.

(6) Lt. Daisley is consistently referred to as an inspirational figure by his friends, classmates and others who knew him and is deeply missed by his community.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on Local Route T-325 in Coudersport Borough, Potter County, over the Allegheny River is hereby designated the Lieutenant William E. Daisley, Jr., Memorial Bridge.

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

Section 6. Senior Officer Eric J. Williams Memorial Bridge.

(a) Declaration of policy.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Officer Eric J. Williams was dedicated to serving his country, his Commonwealth and his community.

(2) After graduating from King's College with a criminal justice degree, Officer Williams began serving his county as a Federal corrections officer on September 11, 2011.

(3) Officer Williams was tragically killed at the United States Penitentiary-Canaan by an inmate who assaulted him with a homemade weapon as he was preparing to lock up inmates.

(4) Officer Williams' courageous service to the people of this Commonwealth will never be forgotten.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on S.R. 3005 in Conyngham Township, Luzerne County, over the outlet of Lily Lake is hereby designated as the Senior Officer Eric J. Williams Memorial Bridge.

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

Section 7. 1st Lieutenant Wendell Elbert Ross Memorial Bridge.

(a) Findings.--

(1) 1st Lieutenant Wendell Elbert Ross was born in Lumber City, Pennsylvania, and bravely served in Company B, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division of the United States Army during World War II.

(2) While heroically serving his country, 1st Lieutenant Ross was killed by sniper fire in Italy on February 11, 1944.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 3005 in Greenwood Township, Clearfield County, over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River is hereby designated the 1st Lieutenant Wendell Elbert Ross Memorial Bridge.

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

Section 8. Summerville Veterans Memorial Bridge.

(a) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 3007 in Summerville Borough, Jefferson County, over the Redbank Creek is hereby designated the Summerville Veterans Memorial Bridge to honor the 120 veterans buried in cemeteries in Summerville and the citizens of Summerville and Jefferson County who have served or are currently serving our nation in the armed forces.

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

Section 9. Alexander Miller Abercrombie Memorial Bridge.

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

(1) The late Alexander Miller Abercrombie, Technician 5th Class, United States Army, of Revloc, Cambria County, was born May 7, 1921, in Kilsyth, Scotland.

(2) Technical Sergeant Abercrombie's family arrived in the United States April 23, 1923.

(3) Technical Sergeant Abercrombie attended Ebensburg-Cambria High School for one year before enlisting in the United States Army September 9, 1942.

(4) Technical Sergeant Abercrombie entered active military service September 20, 1942.

(5) Technical Sergeant Abercrombie completed Airborne training and served in Alaska before joining the Allied Campaign in Europe as a member of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.

(6) While serving in the Ruhr Valley of Germany, Technical Sergeant Abercrombie and more than 100 members of his company came under attack during the course of a night raid launched April 11, 1945.

(7) Technical Sergeant Abercrombie, who was 24 years of age, was mortally wounded April 12, 1945, by German artillery after crossing the Rhine River into the village of Himmelgeist, Germany.

(8) Awarded the Purple Heart, Technical Sergeant Abercrombie was killed in action along with three other American paratroopers and is buried at Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, the Netherlands.

(b) Change of name.--The bridge on U.S. Route 219 which carries over to U.S. Route 422 in Ebensburg Borough, Cambria County, is hereby renamed the Alexander Miller Abercrombie Memorial Bridge.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs which shall display the name of the bridge designated in subsection (b).

Section 10. Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.