H0065B0069A02192 NAD:JMT 06/18/19 #90 A02192
AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL NO. 65
Sponsor: SENATOR K. WARD
Printer's No. 69
Amend Bill, page 1, line 4, by striking out the period after
"Bridge" and inserting
; designating the 2100 to 2200 block of Castor Avenue, State
Route 1005, in Philadelphia County as the Police Officer
Raymond Diaz, Jr., Memorial Highway; designating the portion
of Interstate 376 from the end of the bridge identified as
Bridge Key 3522 to the exit at State Route 51 in Beaver
County, as the Richard L. Shaw Memorial Highway; designating
the bridge identified as Bridge Key 3522 on that portion of
Interstate 376 over the Ohio River in Vanport Township,
Beaver County, as the USAF Combat Controller Staff Sgt. Dylan
Elchin Memorial Bridge; designating the first block of West
Main Street, State Route 1010, in Fleetwood Borough, Berks
County, as the Alex J. Szoke Highway; designating the bridge
identified as Bridge Key 15986 on that portion of Interstate
79 northbound over West 16th Street in the City of Erie, Erie
County, as the Thomas J. Kennedy, Jr., Memorial Bridge;
designating the bridge on that portion of State Route 4011
over Pine Creek, Hegins Township, Schuylkill County, as the
A. Donald Buffington Memorial Bridge; designating a portion
of Pennsylvania Route 144 beginning at the intersection of
Pennsylvania Route 64 in Pleasant Gap and ending at the
intersection of Pennsylvania Route 45 in Centre Hall, Centre
County, as the Duster-Quad 50-Searchlight Highway; and
designating a portion of Pennsylvania Route 50 in
Independence Township, Washington County, as the Lt. Col.
Juanita L. Warman Memorial Highway.
Amend Bill, page 2, by inserting between lines 20 and 21
Section 2. Police Officer Raymond Diaz, Jr., Memorial Highway.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) Police Officer Raymond Diaz, Jr., made the ultimate
sacrifice on September 9, 2016, when he died as a result of
complications from injuries sustained in an accident when his
patrol car was struck by a vehicle while responding to a
burglary.
(2) As a result of the accident Officer Diaz was
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diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms as well as other
injuries.
(3) Officer Diaz was assigned to the 24th Police
District and served with the Philadelphia Police Department
for 20 years.
(4) Officer Diaz was survived by his wife and three
children.
(b) Designation.--The 2100 to 2200 block of Castor Avenue,
State Route 1005, in Philadelphia County is designated the
Police Officer Raymond Diaz, Jr., Memorial Highway.
(c) 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 3. Richard L. Shaw Memorial Highway.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) Richard L. Shaw, born on May 8, 1927, passed away on
December 29, 2018, at 91 years of age.
(2) After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh
in 1950 with a business degree, Shaw went to work for the
Michael Baker Corp., an engineering firm, in 1952. He
progressed through various leadership positions before being
named president in 1973 and chief executive officer in 1984.
(3) He retired as CEO of Michael Baker Corp. in 1992,
but returned to that role three times between 1993 and 2006,
finally retiring in 2008.
(4) Shaw served for decades on the board of directors of
the Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development, as
well as the New Brighton Area school board.
(5) Shaw was a trustee of Brighton Center for Youth and
served on the boards of a number of organizations, including
The United Way of Beaver County, Salvation Army, Penn State-
Beaver, Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Planning
Commission, Allegheny County Airport Authority, American Red
Cross and Boy Scouts of America.
(6) In his capacity at Michael Baker Corp., Shaw also
completed the property surveys, site design and civil
permitting for the new home of the Beaver County Humane
Society at no cost to the society. The plan for the state-of-
the-art facility came to fruition in 2013.
(7) Shaw was a leading force in the designation of Route
60 as Interstate 376, which sparked significant economic
development in Beaver County.
(8) A World War II veteran, Shaw dedicated more than 60
years to supporting and expanding the business and civic
communities of Beaver County.
(b) Designation.--The portion of Interstate 376 from the end
of the bridge identified as Bridge Key 3522 to the exit at State
Route 51 in Beaver County, is designated the Richard L. Shaw
Memorial Highway.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
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maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to
traffic in both directions on the highway.
Section 4. USAF Combat Controller Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin
Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) USAF Combat Controller Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin was
born June 11, 1993, and gave his life in the line of duty on
November 27, 2018, at 25 years of age.
(2) After graduating from Hopewell High School in 2012,
Staff Sgt. Elchin joined the United State Air Force and was
stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.
(3) Staff Sgt. Elchin was deployed to serve in the Andar
District of the Ghazni Province in Afghanistan as a Joint
Terminal Attack Controller with the 26th Special Tactics
Squadron.
(4) Staff Sgt. Elchin was a recipient of the Bronze
Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with
valor, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Combat
Action Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense
Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal, the Global War on
Terrorism Service Medal and the NATO Medal.
(5) Throughout his career, Staff Sgt. Elchin steadfastly
displayed exceeding loyalty and dedication to the United
States of America as well as the United States Air Force.
People who value freedom will forever owe him a debt that
never can be repaid.
(b) Designation.--The bridge identified as Bridge Key 3522
on that portion of Interstate 376 over the Ohio River in Vanport
Township, Beaver County, is designated the USAF Combat
Controller Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin 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. Alex J. Szoke Highway.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) Alex J. "Shonny" Szoke was recognized for his record
of community commitment and service by a resolution of the
borough council of Fleetwood Borough, Berks County, on
December 10, 2018.
(2) Mr. Szoke and his wife, Gloria, were married for 65
years before his death on November 18, 2018.
(3) He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
Reserve before graduating from Kutztown High School in 1948,
and served in the United States Navy during the Korean War.
(4) Mr. Szoke was a member of Fleetwood Borough Council
for 40 years, serving most of that time as council president.
(5) He also served as a church council member of
Becker's St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Molltown; a founder of
the Fleetwood Area Baseball Association (FABA); a Cub Scout
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master for Evansville and Fleetwood, an officer of the
Fraternal Order Orioles Fleetwood Nest 23; a secretary of his
union local at Allentown Portland Cement in Evansville, past
chair of the Berks County Democratic Committee, and winner of
the full beard award during the 1973 Fleetwood Centennial
year.
(b) Designation.--The first block of West Main Street, State
Route 1010, in Fleetwood Borough, Berks County, is designated as
the Alex J. Szoke Highway.
(c) 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 6. Thomas J. Kennedy, Jr., Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) Thomas J. Kennedy, Jr., was born May 18, 1930, in
the City of Erie, Erie County, and served the United States
in the Marine Corps, where he reached the rank of Captain.
(2) Captain Kennedy was the Senior Battalion Advisor to
the Fifth Battalion, Vietnamese Marine Brigade, in the
hostile area of Phu An, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam.
(3) On June 12, 1966, Captain Kennedy was with the Fifth
Battalion Command Post when the lead elements were pinned
down by heavy enemy fire and the Command Post was destroyed
by enemy mortar and rifle fire, killing the Battalion
Commander, the Battalion Surgeon, key staff officers and
numerous soldiers.
(4) Although suffering multiple shrapnel wounds, Captain
Kennedy located a radio and, with his last breath, reported
the situation, allowing the battalion to set up a defensive
perimeter and repulse repeated enemy attacks.
(5) Despite his mortal wounds, Captain Kennedy prevented
enemy forces from overrunning the remaining battalion units
and valiantly gave his life protecting the lives of his
fellow Marines.
(6) For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action,
Captain Kennedy was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the
third-highest personal decoration for valor in combat.
(b) Designation.--The bridge, identified as Bridge Key
15986, on that portion of Interstate 79 northbound over West
16th Street in the City of Erie, Erie County, is designated the
Thomas J. Kennedy, 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 7. A. Donald Buffington Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) A. Donald Buffington was born December 16, 1929.
(2) Mr. Buffington graduated in 1947 from the former
Hegins Township High School and in 1949 from the former
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Eckles College of Mortuary Science, Philadelphia.
(3) Mr. Buffington faithfully served his community as a
board member of the Valley View Park Association and a board
member of the Tri-Valley School Board for several decades.
(4) Mr. Buffington spent several decades of time
maintaining the Valley View Park which included painting and
cutting grass.
(5) Mr. Buffington was a coach for the Hegins Valley
Teener League and was the first Teener League coach from
Schuylkill County to win the State Championship in 1970.
(6) Mr. Buffington played and coached semi-pro baseball
in the area for many years.
(7) Mr. Buffington was the Funeral Director for the
former Buffington Funeral Home and the Buffington-Reed
Funeral Home, both of Valley View.
(8) Mr. Buffington was a member of Friedens United
Church of Christ in Hegins, Valley View Gun Club and Valley
View Fire Company.
(b) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 4011
over Pine Creek, Hegins Township, Schuylkill County, is
designated the A. Donald Buffington 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. Duster-Quad 50-Searchlight Highway.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) Dusters, quad .50s and searchlights were weapons
used by the United States Army, grouped together as separate
small units, and deployed to Vietnam starting in 1966 and
ending in 1972.
(2) Duster was the nickname given to a weapon mounted on
a tank chassis with two 40 mm guns mounted on top.
(3) Quad 50 was the nickname for a weapon that had
four .50 caliber machine guns mounted on the back of a two
and one-half ton truck.
(4) Searchlights provided white light and infrared
illumination to assist the United States Army in the defense
of combat bases at night.
(5) Several hundred soldiers from this Commonwealth
served in units heavily armed with dusters, quad .50s and
searchlights.
(6) The 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery, with Battery G of
the 65th Artillery and Battery G of the 29th Artillery
attached, was the highest decorated unit of its size to fight
in the Vietnam War.
(7) As a unit equipped with dusters, quad .50s and
searchlights, the unit was awarded over 450 medals for valor,
including the Medal of Honor, and was awarded over 1000
Purple Hearts.
(8) During the Vietnam War, units equipped with dusters,
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quad .50s and searchlights suffered the loss of 211 soldiers,
including five soldiers from this Commonwealth.
(b) Designation.--The portion of Pennsylvania Route 144
beginning at the intersection of Pennsylvania Route 64 in
Pleasant Gap and ending at the intersection of Pennsylvania
Route 45 in Centre Hall, Centre County, is designated as Duster-
Quad 50-Searchlight Highway.
(c) 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 9. Lieutenant Colonel Juanita L. Warman Memorial
Highway.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman lived in Avella as a
child and attended elementary school and junior high school
there.
(2) Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman attended the former
Langley High School in Pittsburgh and graduated from the
University of Pittsburgh with a master's degree in nursing.
(3) Lt. Col. Warman worked at the University of
Pittsburgh Medical Center for a portion of her career, joined
the United States Army and, as a psychiatric nurse
practitioner, served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom
in 2006.
(4) Lt. Col. Warman was an expert in post-traumatic
stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
(5) Lt. Col. Warman served a year in Germany at
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, a medical facility where
soldiers wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq were treated before
being returned to the United States, and regularly
volunteered for trips to care for soldiers being transported
to Landstuhl.
(6) For her meritorious service at Landstuhl, Lt. Col.
Warman was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in 2006.
(7) On November 5, 2009, while at the Soldier Readiness
Processing Center in Fort Hood, Texas for deployment to Iraq,
Lt. Col Warman was killed during a shooting rampage in which
13 people were killed and 30 more were injured.
(8) Lt. Col. Warman's military career spanned 25 years
in active duty and the Army reserves.
(b) Designation.--The section of Pennsylvania Route 50 in
Independence Township, Washington County, from Segment 70 to
Segment 80 is designated the Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman Memorial
Highway.
(c) 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.
Amend Bill, page 2, line 21, by striking out "2" and
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inserting
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