THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY CAUSER, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011  

AN ACT

Designating a bridge carrying State Route 607 over Freeman Run

in the Borough of Austin, Potter County, as the Captain Edgar

E. Nuschke Memorial Bridge; and designating a bridge carrying

State Route 872 at Section 110 Offset 0960 over the East Fork

of Sinnemahoning Creek in Wharton Township, Potter County, as

the Private First Class Edward Ritsick Memorial Bridge.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Captain Edgar E. Nuschke Memorial Bridge.

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

declares as follows:

(1)  Captain Edgar E. Nuschke graduated from Austin High

School and attended the University of Pittsburgh before

entering the Army Air Corps.

(2)  Captain Nuschke served in the United States Air

Force and flew 100 successful missions during World War II.

(3)  After his World War II service, Captain Nuschke

continued his education at Northern Illinois College of

Optometry.

(4)  Captain Nuschke practiced optometry in Sacramento

before being recalled into the Air Force in 1951 during the

Korean War, during which he flew Strategic Air Command

bombers.

(5)  In 1966 Captain Nuschke was assigned to Vietnam as a

forward air controller flying L-19 Bird Dogs over enemy

territory and was responsible for gathering intelligence.

(6)  Captain Nuschke was shot and killed while flying an

O1G-observation aircraft in Vietnam.

(7)  Captain Nuschke served his country for 22 years.

(8)  Captain Nuschke is honored on the Vietnam Veterans

Memorial, Panel 14E, Row 64.

(9)  Captain Nuschke is buried in the veterans' section

of the Glen Oaks Cemetery.

(b)  Designation.--The bridge carrying State Route 607 over

Freeman Run in the Borough of Austin, Potter County, is

designated as the Captain Edgar E. Nuschke Memorial Bridge.

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

maintain appropriate signs to indicate the designation under

subsection (b).

Section 2.  Private First Class Edward Ritsick Memorial Bridge.

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

declares as follows:

(1)  Private First Class Edward Ritsick graduated from

Austin High School and was an avid hunter and sportsman.

(2)  Six months after graduating from high school,

Private First Class Ritsick joined the United States Army

where he was assigned to the 65th Engineer Battalion, 25th

Infantry Division, and served as a light vehicle driver.

(3)  Shortly after arriving in Vietnam, Private First

Class Ritsick was killed in action on March 11, 1968, in Hau

Nghia Province, South Vietnam.

(4)  Private First Class Ritsick is honored on the

Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Panel 44E, Line 20.

(5)  Private First Class Ritsick is buried at St.

Augustine Cemetery in Austin.

(b)  Designation.--The bridge carrying State Route 872 at

Section 110 Offset 0960 over the East Fork of Sinnemahoning

Creek in Wharton Township, Potter County, is designated as the

Private First Class Edward Ritsick Memorial Bridge.

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

maintain appropriate signs to indicate the designation under

subsection (b).

Section 3.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.