THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY STERN, GEIST AND FLECK, MARCH 3, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 3, 2011  

AN ACT

Designating the bridge carrying State Route 2014 over the

Beaverdam Branch of the Juniata River in Hollidaysburg

Borough, Blair County, as the Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Lightner

Memorial Bridge.

Section 1.  Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Lightner Memorial Bridge.

(a)  Declaration of policy.--The General Assembly finds and 

declares as follows:

(1)  Staff Sgt. Daniel R. Lightner, Jr., was a native of

Hollidaysburg, Blair County, and following graduation from

high school, Sgt. Lightner attended Lock Haven University and

received an associate's degree from Kansas City Community

College.

(2)  Sgt. Lightner served in the United States Army from

1995 to 1998 and, upon completing his active duty, enlisted

in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard while working as a

corrections officer at the Federal prison in Lewisburg.

(3)  Sgt. Lightner joined the Pennsylvania State Police

in 2003 and was assigned in 2004 to Troop J in Embreeville,

Chester County, where he served until his Guard unit was

activated in January 2005 for deployment to Iraq.

(4)  At the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, Sgt.

Lightner, an avid runner, received an award as the cadet with

the highest physical fitness rating, and in the military he

received the Order of the Purple Heart, Army Achievement

Medal, Army Commendation Medal, German Marksmanship Medal,

Army Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal.

(5)  Sgt. Lightner's unit was deployed to Iraq for the

purpose of providing security in the Ramadi Province, and on

October 27, 2005, Sgt. Lightner died from injuries received

when a roadside bomb struck his up-armored vehicle during

combat operations with the Army National Guard's 2nd Brigade

28th Stryker Division Combat Team. He was the first

Pennsylvania State Police officer killed in military action

since World War II.

(6)  Sgt. Lightner, beloved son of Judy Ann Lightner and

beloved brother of Shannon, Shilo and Shonda, was

courageously serving his country and the campaign for

Operation Iraqi Freedom at the time of his death, and his

excellence as a soldier and State trooper has been extolled

by many.

(b)  Designation.--State Route 2014 (Plank Road) over the

Beaverdam Branch of the Juniata River in Hollidaysburg Borough,

Blair County, is hereby designated as the Sgt. 1st Class Daniel

Lightner Memorial Bridge.

(c)  Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and

maintain appropriate signs to indicate the designation under

subsection (b).

Section 2.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.