Pennsylvania Act 2010-79 — DESIGNATIONS - PURPLE HEART INTERCHANGE, SERGEANT MAJOR MORTON SHEA LANDY MEMORIAL BRIDGE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ERNEST P. KLINE MEMORIAL BRIDGE, TRAFFORD VETERANS MEMORIAL BRIDGE AND ROBERT E. HARPER INTERCHANGE

Act text

DESIGNATIONS - PURPLE HEART INTERCHANGE, SERGEANT MAJOR MORTON SHEA LANDY
  MEMORIAL BRIDGE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ERNEST P. KLINE MEMORIAL BRIDGE,
    TRAFFORD VETERANS MEMORIAL BRIDGE AND ROBERT E. HARPER INTERCHANGE
                  Act of Oct. 19, 2010, P.L. 543, No. 79              Cl. 87
                                  AN ACT

     Designating the interchange at Exit 48 of Interstate 79 in
        Washington County as the Purple Heart Interchange;
        designating a bridge located on that portion of S.R. 3001
        over the Chest Creek, Mahaffey, Clearfield County, as the
        Sergeant Major Morton Shea Landy Memorial Bridge; designating
        the Donora-Webster Bridge in Donora, Washington County, as
        the Lieutenant Governor Ernest P. Kline Memorial Bridge;
        designating a bridge on that portion of S.R. 130 over the
        Norfolk Southern rail lines, Trafford Borough, Allegheny and
        Westmoreland Counties, as the Trafford Veterans Memorial
        Bridge; and designating the interchange of Business Route 60
        with Thorn Run Road in Moon Township, Allegheny County, as
        the Robert E. Harper Interchange.

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

     Section 1.  The Purple Heart Interchange.
        (a)  Declaration of policy.--The General Assembly finds and
     declares as follows:
            (1)  The Purple Heart is awarded, in the name of the
        President of the United States, to any member of the armed
        forces who has been wounded or killed while serving, on or
        after April 5, 1917, with the United States Armed Forces.
            (2)  In 2005, The United States Department of Veterans
        Affairs established the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies,
        which is located in close proximity to Exit 48 (Southpointe)
        of Interstate 79 in Washington County.
        (b)  Designation.--Exit 48 (Southpointe) of Interstate 79 in
     Washington County, in both directions, is hereby designated as
     the Purple Heart Interchange.
        (c)  Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall, in
     appropriate locations, erect and maintain signs displaying the
     name designated under subsection (b).
     Section 2.  Sergeant Major Morton Shea Landy Memorial Bridge.
        (a)  Findings and declarations.--The General Assembly finds
     and declares as follows:
            (1)  Morton Shea Landy of Mahaffey entered the United
        States Marine Corps in 1946.
            (2)  He was a highly decorated veteran. When he retired,
        after serving 32 years and 30 days, he had attained the rank
        of Sergeant Major and was only the second person to serve two
        years beyond the 30-year limit.
            (3)  He received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with
        "V" for valor.
        (b)  Designation.--The bridge located on S.R. 3001 in
     Mahaffey, Clearfield County, over the Chest Creek is hereby
     designated the Sergeant Major Morton Shea Landy Memorial Bridge.
        (c)  Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
     maintain appropriate signs displaying the name designated under
     subsection (b) to traffic in both directions on the bridge.
     Section 3.  Lieutenant Governor Ernest P. Kline Memorial Bridge.
        (a)  Findings and declarations.--The General Assembly finds
     and declares as follows:
            (1)  Ernie Kline was born on June 20, 1929, in Allentown.
            (2)  Ernie Kline graduated from Rostraver High School in
        1947.
            (3)  After graduation, Ernie Kline settled in Beaver
        Falls, Beaver County, where he won a seat on the Beaver Falls
        City Council in 1955.
            (4)  Ernie Kline was elected in 1964 to represent Beaver
        and Lawrence Counties in the Pennsylvania Senate. He served
        in this position for six years. He was elected to be the
        Senate Minority Leader in 1967.
            (5)  Ernie Kline was elected the 25th Lieutenant Governor
        of Pennsylvania under Milton Shapp in 1970. In 1974, he
        became the first lieutenant governor to be re-elected to a
        second term. He served as the Lieutenant Governor until his
        second term expired in 1979.
            (6)  Upon leaving public office, Ernie Kline established
        a government relations firm where he worked until his death
        on May 13, 2009.
        (b)  Designation.--The bridge carrying Route 1022 across the
     Monongahela River and the Norfolk Southern and CSX Rail Line
     between Donora, Washington County, and Webster, Westmoreland
     County, is hereby designated the Lieutenant Governor Ernest P.
     Kline 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 4.  Trafford Veterans Memorial Bridge.
        (a)  Designation.--The bridge that carries S.R. 130 in
     Trafford Borough, Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties, over the
     Norfolk Southern rail lines is hereby designated the Trafford
     Veterans 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 5.  Robert E. Harper Interchange.
        (a)  Declaration of policy.--The General Assembly finds and
     declares as follows:
            (1)  Robert Ernest Harper was born and raised in
        Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Coraopolis High
        School in 1964 where he played baseball, played trumpet in
        the marching band and punted for the football team.
            (2)  Mr. Harper graduated from the University of
        Pittsburgh in 1968 with a degree in economics.
            (3)  Mr. Harper served honorably as a first lieutenant in
        Vietnam as a combat rifle platoon leader. Upon leaving the
        Army, he returned home and was conferred a law degree by the
        University of Pittsburgh in 1974 and began his legal career
        with Alter, Wright and Baron. He then served as a managing
        partner at Springer, Bush and Perry before joining Tucker
        Arensberg to manage the firm's airport office. He practiced
        law for 36 years.
            (4)  Mr. Harper served as Moon Township supervisor from
        1980 to 1983 and was active in numerous civic organizations
        where he selflessly worked to improve the community for
        future generations. He was instrumental in bringing
        infrastructure improvements to the township and was
        responsible for bringing Montour Heights Country Club to its
        current location on Coraopolis Heights Road.
            (5)  Mr. Harper was a lifelong member of the Coraopolis
        United Methodist Church where he served as a congregational
        lay leader, singer in the choir and active participant in the
        life of the church. In addition, he served as the chairman of
        the United Methodist Foundation of Western Pennsylvania.
            (6)  Mr. Harper is survived by his loving wife of 38
        years, Barbara; three sons, Robert Evan (Caitlin), Reid
        Andrew and James Randall; and a granddaughter, Margaret Ruth.
        He also leaves behind a brother, Jack, and was preceded in
        death by his parents, Harold and Ruth Harper.
        (b)  Designation.--Business Route 60 at Thorn Run Road in
     Moon Township, Allegheny County, is hereby designated as the
     Robert E. Harper Interchange.
        (c)  Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
     maintain appropriate signs to indicate the designation under
     subsection (b).
     Section 6.  Effective date.
        This act shall take effect in 60 days.