Pennsylvania Act 2019-59 — MULTIPLE DESIGNATIONS IN MULTIPLE COUNTIES - DESIGNATION

Act text

An Act

Designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 3016 (Bedford Street) over Solomon Run in the City of Johnstown, Cambria County, as the Seaman Apprentice Kenneth D. Scaife Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge on that portion of Peg Run Road, Pennsylvania Route 240, over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, Susquehanna Township, Cambria County, as the United States Army Sergeant Scott O. Henry Memorial Bridge; designating a portion of U.S. Route 220 in Sullivan County from the intersection with Pennsylvania Route 87 to the Bradford County line as the T.W. "Doc" Shoemaker Memorial Highway; designating a bridge on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 14 over Fall Brook, Troy Borough, Bradford County, as the Troy Area Veterans Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 305 over Shaver's Creek in Barree Township, Huntingdon County, as the Private Harold E. "Jim" Knode Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 453 over the Little Juniata River, Tyrone Township, Blair County, as the Robert E. Gensimore Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 899 over the Clarion River connecting Barnett Township, Jefferson County, and Barnett Township, Forest County, as the PFC Patrick T. Cassatt Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 4018 over the Little Mahoning Creek, South Mahoning Township, Indiana County, as the SP4 Franklin Delano Meyer Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge identified as Bridge Key 54683 on that portion of State Route 3009 (Kushequa Avenue) over the Kinzua Creek in Kushequa, Hamlin Township, McKean County, as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge; designating the bridge identified as Bridge Key 18676 on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 747 over the Juniata River in Mount Union Borough, Huntingdon County, as the Captain Joseph S. Giacobello Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 2016 over the Casselman River in Rockwood Borough, Somerset County, as the PFC Alton Glenn Sterner Memorial Bridge; and designating a bridge on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 96 over the Little Wills Creek, Bedford County, as the Staff Sgt. Roger (Rod) Guy Holler Memorial Bridge.

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

Section 1. Seaman Apprentice Kenneth D. Scaife Memorial Bridge.

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

(1) Seaman Apprentice (SA) Kenneth D. Scaife was born August 6, 1953, and was a native of Johnstown. He attended Johnstown High School.

(2) SA Scaife served in the United States Navy aboard the USS William C. Lawe, DD-763, 7th Fleet, as a machine gunner.

(3) SA Scaife was assigned to Vietnam and served nearly two years before his death.

(4) SA Scaife was declared Missing in Action (MIA)/Killed in Action (KIA) after being lost at sea off the coast of South Vietnam while his vessel was providing gunfire support on January 3, 1973.

(5) Despite a complete search of the ship, the ship's route and the coast, SA Scaife's body was never recovered.

(6) For his service and ultimate sacrifice, SA Scaife was awarded the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

(7) SA Scaife is honored on Panel 1W, Line 108, of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 3016 (Bedford Street) over Solomon Run in the City of Johnstown, Cambria County, is hereby designated the Seaman Apprentice Kenneth D. Scaife 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. United States Army Sergeant Scott O. Henry Memorial Bridge.

(a) Designation.--The bridge located on Peg Run Road, Pennsylvania Route 240, over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, Susquehanna Township, Cambria County, is designated the United States Army Sergeant Scott O. Henry Memorial Bridge in honor of Scott O. Henry who served in both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army. Scott O. Henry was killed in action in Vietnam at the Battle of Ia Drang while rescuing an injured soldier from the field of battle.

(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 3. T.W. "Doc" Shoemaker Memorial Highway.

(a) Designation.--The section of U.S. Route 220 in Sullivan County from the intersection with Pennsylvania Route 87 to the Bradford County line is designated the T.W. "Doc" Shoemaker Memorial Highway in honor of Sullivan County native T.W. "Doc" Shoemaker, a World War II veteran who died on May 2, 2018, after serving his community for nearly 70 years as a veterinarian and community leader.

(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 4. Troy Area Veterans Memorial Bridge.

(a) Designation.--The bridge located on Pennsylvania Route 14 over Fall Brook in Troy Borough, Bradford County, is designated the Troy Area Veterans Memorial Bridge.

(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 5. Private Harold E. "Jim" Knode Memorial Bridge.

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

(1) Private Harold E. "Jim" Knode was a native of the McAlevys Fort area.

(2) In February 1944, Private Knode was drafted into the United States Army at age 28 and served with the 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division.

(3) On November 28, 1944, Private Knode was killed while crossing the Moselle River between France and Germany. Private Knode was interred in what became the Epinal American Cemetery in Dinozé, France.

(4) Private Knode was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and a lapel button for Honorable Service.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on Pennsylvania Route 305 in Barree Township, Huntingdon County, over Shaver's Creek is designated the Private Harold E. "Jim" Knode 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. Robert E. Gensimore Memorial Bridge.

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

(1) Robert E. Gensimore, a foreman for Blair District 9 of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, lost his life in the line of duty on February 17, 2018.

(2) A resident of Spruce Creek, Gensimore was a 1991 graduate of Juniata Valley High School and served for 27 years as a member of the Warriors Mark-Franklin Volunteer Fire Company.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on Pennsylvania Route 453 in Tyrone Township, Blair County, over the Little Juniata River, is designated the Robert E. Gensimore 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. PFC Patrick T. Cassatt Memorial Bridge.

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

(1) PFC Patrick T. Cassatt of Clarington served with the U.S. Army in World War II and the Korean War.

(2) A member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, PFC Cassatt was declared missing in action on November 2, 1950, after his battalion was attacked by the Peoples Liberation Army.

(3) PFC Cassatt was declared killed in action on December 31, 1953.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on Pennsylvania Route 899 over the Clarion River connecting Barnett Township, Jefferson County, and Barnett Township, Forest County, is designated the PFC Patrick T. Cassatt 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. SP4 Franklin Delano Meyer Memorial Bridge.

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

(1) SP4 Franklin Delano Meyer, a native of South Mahoning Township, lost his life on June 11, 1970, while serving with the United States Army in Vietnam.

(2) SP4 Meyer was awarded the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Aircrew Badge and Marksmanship Medal.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 4018 over the Little Mahoning Creek, South Mahoning Township, Indiana County, is designated the SP4 Franklin Delano Meyer 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 9. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge.

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

(1) Although there was no official declaration of war, it is widely accepted that the Vietnam War started on November 1, 1955, and ended on April 30, 1975, lasting 19 years, 180 days.

(2) On August 2, 1964, the North Vietnamese fired on a United States destroyer anchored in the Gulf of Tonkin, leading to Congress passing the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, authorizing a full-scale intervention in the Vietnam War.

(3) On March 8, 1965, the first American combat troops, the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, landed in Da Nang, Vietnam.

(4) The last American ground troops left Vietnam on March 29, 1973, more than two years before the official end of the war when South Vietnam surrendered to North Vietnam.

(5) Two hundred forty men were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War.

(6) In all, approximately 2,700,000 American men and women served in uniform in Vietnam, including more than 300,000 Pennsylvanians.

(7) During the course of the Vietnam War, 58,148 Americans were killed, including more than 3,000 Pennsylvanians.

(8) It is fitting to recognize and honor the men and women who bravely served their country during the Vietnam War.

(b) Designation.--The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 54683, located on State Route 3009 (Kushequa Avenue) in Kushequa, Hamlin Township, McKean County, over the Kinzua Creek is designated the Vietnam 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 10. Captain Joseph S. Giacobello Memorial Bridge.

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

(1) Joseph S. Giacobello lived a life of humble service to the residents of Mount Union and to the nation.

(2) Born June 30, 1919, Mr. Giacobello attended Mount Union High School, from which he graduated in 1938.

(3) Mr. Giacobello attended Shippensburg State Teachers College, where he was a standout basketball and football player until he was drafted into the United States Army in 1942.

(4) Mr. Giacobello was assigned to the United States Army infantry. He completed his basic training at Camp Pickett in Virginia and then attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia.

(5) Mr. Giacobello was deployed to the European Theater with the 35th Infantry Division, Co. F, 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, arriving in Normandy, France, on July 5, 1944, and activated into combat on July 11, 1944, in the fighting in the hedgerows of St. Lo, France.

(6) In one of many distinguished combat actions, Mr. Giacobello heroically led his company in an attack on the French village of Hellimer, where he and two others stopped a machine gun and knocked out a Panther tank, saving what many believe are countless lives.

(7) Mr. Giacobello was one of the most highly decorated soldiers in central Pennsylvania earning the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Purple Hearts and the Combat Infantryman Badge while fighting in combat in the European Theater.

(8) Mr. Giacobello attained the rank of Captain in the United States Army during his time in combat and service to our nation.

(9) Upon returning home, Mr. Giacobello dedicated his life to service in his Mount Union community where he helped countless local veterans and supported youth sports activities.

(10) Mr. Giacobello passed away on February 16, 2019.

(b) Designation.--The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 18676, located on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 747 in Mount Union Borough, Huntingdon County, over the Juniata River is designated the Captain Joseph S. Giacobello 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 11. PFC Alton Glenn Sterner Memorial Bridge.

(a) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 2016 in Rockwood Borough, Somerset County, over the Casselman River is designated the PFC Alton Glenn Sterner Memorial Bridge in honor of Rockwood native PFC Alton Glenn Sterner, who lost his life on June 19, 1953, while serving with the United States Army 5th Regimental Combat Team during the Korean War.

(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 12. Staff Sgt. Roger (Rod) Guy Holler Memorial Bridge.

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

(1) Staff Sgt. Roger Guy Holler, of Buffalo Mills, was a 1967 graduate of Hyndman High School where he was a varsity wrestler and was in the chorus.

(2) Staff Sgt. Holler attended Penn State Altoona and was attending Pittsburgh Technical Institute when he was drafted into the United States Army in June 1969.

(3) Staff Sgt. Holler completed basic training at Fort Polk in Louisiana and Fort Benning in Georgia.

(4) While in Vietnam, Staff Sgt. Holler was a member of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.

(5) On January 16, 1971, Staff Sgt. Holler was killed by artillery fire in Bien Hoa, Vietnam.

(6) Staff Sgt. Holler was awarded the Silver Star, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Purple Heart.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 96 over the Little Wills Creek, Bedford County, is designated the Staff Sgt. Roger (Rod) Guy Holler 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 13. Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.