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A03843
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1856
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY BURNS, READSHAW, NEILSON, HENNESSEY, BAKER,
WARREN, CONKLIN, DiGIROLAMO, COX, CALTAGIRONE, MILLARD,
BIZZARRO, WARD, KINSEY, DONATUCCI, LONGIETTI, BARBIN, DUSH,
SONNEY, O'NEILL, SANKEY, A. HARRIS, TOEPEL, CAUSER, MARSICO,
HAHN, D. COSTA, PASHINSKI AND GROVE, OCTOBER 12, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, OCTOBER 12, 2017
AN ACT
Designating a bridge on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 271
over US Route 22, Jackson Township, Cambria County, as the
Trooper Gary Fisher Memorial Bridge.; designating a bridge on
that portion of Pennsylvania Route 53 over US Route 22,
Cresson Township, Cambria County, as the Corporal Robert J.
Sherwood, Jr., Memorial Bridge; and designating a bridge on
Segment 80 of State Route 2015, along Overbridge Street and
over Railroad Street, Lilly Borough, Cambria County, as the
Paul E. Sweeney Memorial Bridge.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Trooper Gary Fisher Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) Gary W. Fisher was born on April 2, 1958, to William
and Patricia Fisher in Johnstown.
(2) He enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police on
December 8, 1980 at 22 years of age.
(3) Following graduation from the State Police Academy,
he was assigned to Troop B in Washington County.
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(4) In May 1983, he transferred to the Region V Strike
Force.
(5) On February 3, 1985, at 26 years of age, Trooper
Fisher was shot and killed in the line of duty while
attempting to make an arrest during a drug exchange at the
Crossroads Plaza, East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland
County.
(b) Designation.--The bridge located on that portion of
Pennsylvania Route 271 over US Route 22, Jackson Township,
Cambria County, is designated as the Trooper Gary Fisher
Memorial Bridge.
(c) Signs.--The department shall erect and maintain
appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to traffic
in both directions on the bridge.
Section 2. Corporal Robert J. Sherwood, Jr., Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) Corporal Robert J. Sherwood, Jr., was born in the
City of Altoona, Blair County, on September 5, 1947, and
enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam
War.
(2) On April 3, 1967, Corporal Sherwood made the
ultimate sacrifice for his country. While on patrol, his unit
came under enemy fire and he was mortally wounded helping
load injured Marines into a medical helicopter.
(3) For his service to the United States Marine Corps,
Corporal Sherwood received the following medals and ribbons:
Paratrooper Wings, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense
Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Sharpshooter badge.
(b) Designation.--The bridge located on Pennsylvania Route
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53 in Cresson Township, Cambria County over US Route 22 is
hereby designated the Corporal Robert J. Sherwood, 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 3. Paul E. Sweeney Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) A native of Lilly, Pennsylvania, 1st Sergeant Paul
E. Sweeney served in the United States Army during World War
II as a combat engineer trained in mine demolition and
setting booby traps with the 90th Infantry Division.
(2) On June 17, 1944, his ship, the USS Susan B.
Anthony, hit a mine, forcing the troops and crew to abandon
ship.
(3) On July 4, 1944, Sergeant Sweeney suffered injuries
when he was targeted by a German sniper with a percussion
grenade.
(4) Sergeant Sweeney earned the Silver Star due to his
actions in the vicinity of Kerling, France, on November 12,
1944, when he risked his life to lead a tank unit through
enemy fire to reinforce a patrol taking cover from heavy
machine guns, strategically deployed the tank unit to
eliminate the machine guns and advanced through intense
mortar and small arms fire to attack the enemy and capture 10
prisoners.
(5) In addition to the Silver Star, Sergeant Sweeney's
awards include the Purple Heart and the British Distinguished
Service Medal.
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(6) On August 9, 2016, Sergeant Sweeney passed away at
the age of 96.
(b) Designation.--The bridge located on Segment 80 of State
Route 2015, along Overbridge Street and over Railroad Street,
Lilly Borough, Cambria County, as the Paul E. Sweeney 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 4. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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