Pennsylvania Act 2008-1 — STAFF SARGEANT JEREMY R. HORTON MEMORIAL BRIDGE - DESIGNATION

Act text

AN ACT

Designating the Powell Avenue Bridge on State Route 299 in Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania, as the Staff Sergeant Jeremy R. Horton Memorial Bridge.

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Jeremy R. Horton was born June 16, 1979, in Erie, Pennsylvania, to Timothy J. Horton of Fairview Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania, and Gretchen S. (Wittenburg) Horton of Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, S. Sgt. Horton graduated from Strong Vincent High School in Erie, Erie County, in 1997 where he had met the love of his life, Cristie Schock; and

WHEREAS, S. Sgt. Horton enlisted in the United States Army in November 1997 as an infantryman, after basic training, AIT and Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, S. Sgt. Horton and Ms. Schock were wed July 6, 1998, and posted to Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, S. Sgt. Horton rose rapidly through the ranks, serving as a SAW gunner, grenadier and fire team leader in 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, the "Devils in Baggy Pants"; and

WHEREAS, S. Sgt. Horton was also an avid free-fall sport parachutist, played the drums and was proud of his band, the "Welfare Babies"; and

WHEREAS, In January 2002, S. Sgt. Horton and his wife arrived in Germany, where he was first assigned as a team leader and later squad leader in Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry, Baumholder; and

WHEREAS, S. Sgt. Horton was promoted to Staff Sergeant in March 2003, and deployed with 2nd Brigade, 1AD to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom; and

WHEREAS, S. Sgt. Horton joined Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry in June while deployed, serving initially in the commander's personal security detachment before being selected as 1st Platoon's weapons squad leader; and

WHEREAS, S. Sgt. Horton's element operated in the Jisr Diyala sector and secured the Tuwaytha Nuclear Research Facility; and

WHEREAS, In October, S. Sgt. Horton volunteered to be Alpha section leader, commanding his first Bradley Fighting Vehicle; and

WHEREAS, S. Sgt. Horton made the ultimate sacrifice of giving his life for his country in the line of duty while serving near Al Iskandariyah, Iraq, when an improvised vehicle-borne explosive device exploded on May 21, 2004, while his convoy was stopped for another roadside bomb; and

WHEREAS, S. Sgt. Horton was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Staff Sergeant Jeremy R. Horton Memorial Bridge.

(a) Designation.--The Powell Avenue Bridge on State Route 299 in Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania, known as the Powell Avenue Bridge, is redesignated the Staff Sergeant Jeremy R. Horton Memorial Bridge.

(b) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name Staff Sergeant Jeremy R. Horton Memorial Bridge on both ends of the bridge.

Section 2. Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.