Pennsylvania Act 2011-48 — SGT. 1ST CLASS DANIEL LIGHTNER MEMORIAL BRIDGE - DESIGNATION

Act text

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.

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

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.