Pennsylvania Act 2015-87 — DESIGNATIONS - OMNIBUS DESIGNATIONS

Act text

An Act

Designating a section of Christopher Columbus Boulevard between Oregon Avenue and Washington Avenue in the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, as the William J. Guarnere and Edward "Babe" Heffron Memorial Boulevard; designating a portion of US Route 222 in Lancaster County as the Senator Noah W. Wenger Highway; designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 1029 over the Tunkhannock Creek, Nicholson Township, Wyoming County, as the Jody Allen Cron Memorial Bridge; designating Exit 113, State Ramp 8001, from Interstate 79 onto State Route 208, in Springfield Township, Mercer County, as the Lieutenant Colonel Michael E. McLaughlin Veterans Ramp; designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 88 over Muddy Creek, Cumberland Township, Greene County, as the Army Specialist Richard W. Kowalewski, Jr., Memorial Bridge; and making a related repeal.

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

Section 1. William J. Guarnere and Edward "Babe" Heffron Memorial Boulevard.

(a) William J. Guarnere.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Born in South Philadelphia on April 28, 1923, William J. Guarnere, also known as Wild Bill, was the son of the late Joseph and Augusta Guarnere.

(2) Mr. Guarnere joined the Citizens Military Training Camp and graduated from South Philadelphia High School in 1941 while working for Baldwin Locomotive Works building Sherman tanks for the United States Army.

(3) He enlisted in the United States Army on August 31, 1942, and served as a staff sergeant with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II.

(4) As a paratrooper, Mr. Guarnere made his first combat jump on D-Day as part of the Allied invasion of France, and he fought during the Battle of Normandy, Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge.

(5) He was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Good Conduct Medal, the Campaign Medal with three service stars and arrow device, the World War II Victory Medal and a Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster.

(6) Mr. Guarnere was portrayed in the miniseries, Band of Brothers, produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, in 2001.

(7) He was a beloved family member, dedicated worker and honorable military veteran. He exemplified the best qualities of the human experience.

(8) William J. Guarnere passed away at the age of 90 on March 8, 2014. He generously gave his heart and time to enhance the quality of life of his family and community.

(b) Mr. Edward "Babe" Heffron.--The General Assembly further finds and declares as follows:

(1) Born in South Philadelphia on May 16, 1923, Edward James Heffron, also known as Babe, was the son of the late Joseph and Anne Heffron.

(2) Mr. Heffron attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and South Philadelphia High School.

(3) Mr. Heffron was employed with New York Shipbuilding in Camden, New Jersey, before enlisting in the United States Army on November 7, 1942.

(4) He served as a Private First Class with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II.

(5) Mr. Heffron fought in several battles, including Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge, and was involved in the liberation of the Kaufering concentration camp in Landsberg, Germany.

(6) For his gallant service, Mr. Heffron received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

(7) He was also portrayed in the miniseries, Band of Brothers, in 2001.

(8) A beloved family member, dedicated worker and honorable military veteran, Mr. Heffron exemplified the best qualities of the human experience.

(9) Mr. Heffron passed away at the age of 90 on December 1, 2013.

(c) Designation.--The section of Christopher Columbus Boulevard between Oregon Avenue and Washington Avenue in the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, is hereby designated as the William J. Guarnere and Edward "Babe" Heffron Memorial Boulevard.

(d) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the boulevard designated in subsection (c).

Section 2. Senator Noah W. Wenger Highway. (2 repealed July 15, 2024, P.L.749, No.63)

Section 3. Jody Allen Cron Memorial Bridge.

(a) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 1029 over the Tunkhannock Creek, Nicholson Township, Wyoming County, is hereby designated the Jody Allen Cron Memorial Bridge in memory of PFC Cron's service and sacrifice during the Vietnam Conflict.

(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 4. Lieutenant Colonel Michael E. McLaughlin Veterans Ramp.

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

(1) Lieutenant Colonel Michael E. McLaughlin served this country and this Commonwealth with honor and distinction as a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard. He was a native of Tionesta, Forest County, and was a private contractor in Mercer when he mobilized with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, of the Pennsylvania National Guard in 2005.

(2) On January 5, 2006, Lieutenant Colonel McLaughlin gave his life in the line of duty when he was killed in action in Ramadi, Iraq. He was the first officer in the Pennsylvania National Guard to be killed in action since World War II.

(b) Designation.--Exit 113, State Ramp 8001, from Interstate 79 onto State Route 208, in Springfield Township, Mercer County, is hereby designated the Lieutenant Colonel Michael E. McLaughlin Veterans Ramp.

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

Section 5. Army Specialist Richard W. Kowalewski, Jr., Memorial Bridge.

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

(1) Richard W. Kowalewski, Jr., was born on March 31, 1973, in Waynesburg.

(2) Richard W. Kowalewski, Jr., enlisted in the United States Army and completed basic training in June 1992.

(3) Specialist Kowalewski was later assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

(4) As part of a United Nations peacekeeping operation, Specialist Kowalewski was deployed to Somalia in August 1993.

(5) On October 3, 1993, Specialist Kowalewski, along with 17 other men, was killed in the Battle of Mogadishu. During the battle, a group of Somalis, armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, ambushed Specialist Kowalewski's convoy while in route to rescue downed pilots of a Black Hawk helicopter.

(6) The encounter has been described as one of our country's most violent firefights since Vietnam. The battle was later depicted in the famous novel and movie "Black Hawk Down."

(7) For his heroic actions during battle, Specialist Kowalewski was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor and the Purple Heart.

(b) Designation.--The Bridge located on State Route 88 in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Section Q10, Segment 0300/0000, Structure Number S-31843, over Muddy Creek is hereby designated the Army Specialist Richard W. Kowalewski, Jr., 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 6. Section 4 of the act of May 13, 2015 (P.L.14, No.3), entitled "An act designating the interchange of State Route 43 at the Mon-Fayette Expressway Interchange with State Route 88, known as Exit 28, in Washington County as the Marine Cpl. Thomas R. Matty Memorial Interchange; designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 1013, known as Knupp Road, over the Hypocrite Creek, Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County, as the PFC LeRoy D. "Whitey" Schaller Bridge; designating a portion of State Route 711 in New Florence Borough through St. Clair Township, Westmoreland County, as the Veterans Highway; designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 88 over Muddy Creek, Cumberland Township, Greene County, as the Army Corporal Richard W. Kowalewski, Jr., Memorial Bridge; designating the bridge carrying U.S. Route 322 over the east branch of the Brandywine Creek in West Bradford and East Caln Townships, Chester County, as the Robbie and Ryan Miller Memorial Bridge; designating the bridge located on State Route 34 that connects the banks of the Juniata River in Newport, Perry County, as the Paul Reider bridge; and designating a portion of State Route 2029 and 2049, also known as Bath Road, in Bristol Township, Bucks County, as the Sergeant George Stuckey Memorial Road," is repealed.

Section 7. Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.