THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY MIRABITO, EVERETT, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DALEY, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FABRIZIO, FLECK, GABLER, GEORGE, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GROVE, HENNESSEY, HESS, KORTZ, KULA, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MICCARELLI, MICOZZIE, MOUL, MULLERY, MURT, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PYLE, REED, ROCK, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, STABACK, STERN, SWANGER, TOEPEL, WATSON, WHEATLEY, YOUNGBLOOD AND QUINN, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011  

AN ACT

Redesignating Duboistown Bridge, connecting Williamsport and

Duboistown over the Susquehanna River, Lycoming County, as

the Lance Corporal Abram Howard Memorial Bridge.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Legislative findings.

(1)  United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal Abram L.

Howard, from Williamsport, PA, was killed in action at 21

years of age on July 27, 2010, Helmand Province, Afghanistan,

in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

(2)  Lance Corporal Howard enlisted in the United States

Marine Corps on April 9, 2007, and graduated in June 2007

from Williamsport High School where he played football and

wrestled.

(3)  Lance Corporal Howard entered boot camp at Parris

Island, South Carolina, on January 8, 2008.

(4)  Lance Corporal Howard was a third generation Marine

and the 12th member of his family to enlist and serve.

(5)  Following his graduation from Marine Combat Training

at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Lance Corporal Howard

graduated from Military Police School at Fort Leonard Wood,

Missouri, in September 2008.

(6)  Lance Corporal Howard volunteered for deployment to

Afghanistan in December of 2009 and made the ultimate

sacrifice on July 27, 2010.

(7)  While on a partnered patrol with Afghan National

Police and the United States Marines, his team was ambushed

and Lance Corporal Howard was fatally wounded.

(8)  Without his judgment and decisive actions prior to

the attack, the rest of his team would have proceeded

directly into the enemy ambush, which would have ultimately

wounded or killed other members of his patrol.

(9)  For his bravery, Lance Corporal Howard received the

Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with

distinguished "V" device, Combat Action Ribbon, National

Defense Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on

Terrorism Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Armed Forces

Service Medal and NATO Medal.

Section 2.  Lance Corporal Abram Howard Memorial Bridge.

(a)  Redesignation.--The Duboistown Bridge located on Arch

Street connecting Williamsport and Duboistown over the West

Branch of the Susquehanna River, Lycoming County, is hereby

redesignated the Lance Corporal Abram Howard 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 3.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.