INDIANA – Nine service members from Indiana County were honored on Saturday, July 29, with their names placed on county bridges and interchanges.
Sen. Joe Pittman (R-41), Rep. Brian Smith (R-66) and Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-62) joined Indiana County Sheriff Robert Fyock, Major Chris King, the Civil Air Patrol Color Guard, representatives from the American Legion Clymer Post 222, Indiana County Commissioners Mike Keith, Robin Gorman and Sherene Hess, as well as families of the service members, for a dedication ceremony held at the Clymer Memorial Park.
Legislation was approved by the General Assembly and signed into law as Act 23 of 2022, containing the six state bridge and interchange designations:
- Specialist Five Timothy Rice Memorial Bridge – The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 19033, located on northbound State Route 119 over State Route 286 in White Township, Indiana County.
- Sergeant Charles R. Learn Memorial Bridge – The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 39537, located on that portion of State Route 1005 over a tributary of Crooked Creek, Rayne Township, Indiana County.
- PVT William L. Hadden Memorial Bridge – The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 57053, located over Dixon Run at the intersection of State Route 1012 to Pennsylvania Route 403 in Green Township, Indiana County.
- Carl E. Keith Memorial Bridge – The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 19231, located on State Route 1014 in Green Township, Indiana County, over the abandoned Conrail Railroad.
- Sergeant First Class Randy McCaulley Memorial Bridge – The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 41272, located on Pennsylvania Route 286 over Crooked Creek in Rayne Township, Indiana County.
- Lieutenant Colonel William A. Rush III Memorial Interchange – The interchange of U.S. Route 119 with U.S. Route 422 in White Township, Indiana County.
Three township bridge designations were also unveiled as part of Saturday’s event:
- Tech 4 William Balogh Memorial Bridge
- WWII POW Elmer E. Barr Specialist 4th Class Memorial Bridge
- PFC Joseph Samuel Patterson Memorial Bridge
“I’m pleased to have worked with Rep. Brian Smith, Rep. Jim Struzzi and local leaders, to honor these Indiana County residents and their families who have paid such a heavy price in defense of our freedoms,” Pittman said. “We are forever indebted to these brave heroes for their service to our country and community.”
“I hope drivers in Indiana County and across the Commonwealth remember the sacrifice of these service members each time they cross over the memorial bridges,” Smith said. “It’s thanks to them that we wake up each morning in a free country.”
“It was a humbling experience to be a part of this dedication ceremony and honoring these 9 veterans with their families and friends present,” Struzzi said. “My hope is for these dedicated roads and bridges to be a reminder of the sacrifices that veterans past, present and future make.”
Media Contacts:
Kate Eckhart Flessner (Sen. Pittman)
Jake Gillespie (Rep. Smith)
Tricia Lehman (Rep. Struzzi)