PRINTER'S NO. 1710
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1279
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY W. KELLER, CONKLIN, TOEPEL, QUIGLEY, DiGIROLAMO,
COHEN, BENNINGHOFF, COX, THOMAS, HENNESSEY, SAMUELSON, MAJOR,
MILLARD, LONGIETTI, READSHAW, SANTORA, KINSEY, DRISCOLL,
DAVIS, YOUNGBLOOD, KILLION, WHEELAND, SONNEY, DUSH, O'BRIEN,
BARRAR, BROWNLEE, MURT, SABATINA, DONATUCCI, CORBIN, WATSON,
PAYNE, ELLIS, GOODMAN, A. HARRIS, MAHONEY AND BRADFORD,
JUNE 5, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JUNE 5, 2015
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 James Heffron Memorial Boulevard.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. William J. Guarnere and Edward James 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
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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 James 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
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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 James 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. Effective date.
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This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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