HARRISBURG – Senator Michele Brooks reported that the Senate has approved legislation to name a bridge spanning a portion of College Avenue in Mercer County as the Greenville Veterans Memorial Bridge.
The bridge crosses the Little Shenango River in Greenville Borough, Mercer County.
The naming was included as part of legislation passed by the full Senate today, and which included an amendment offered by Sen. Brooks. She worked with the Greenville VFW and her Senate colleagues on the bill after the VFW approached her about renaming the bridge in honor of military veterans.
“This bridge already has a profound meaning for patriotic Pennsylvanians. Our VFW places a wreath on the river on Memorial Day each year in solemn tribute to our fallen heroes,” Sen. Brooks said. “With the formal naming of this bridge, it will stand as a testament to the men and women who gave everything in defense of freedom.”
Sen. Brooks also worked to have a section of State Route 18 in West Fallowfield Township in Crawford County named the Staff Sergeant James Douglas Mowris Memorial Highway. This language was contained in the legislation approved today.
“Thanks to a combined House-Senate push, this naming was also approved by the Senate to honor one of our own,” Sen. Brooks said.
The language saluting Staff Sergeant Mowris was advanced by Rep. Parke Wentling and Sen. Brooks. The bill now returns to the House for concurrence in Senate amendments before it goes to the governor for his signature.
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Doug Mowris was killed on January 29, 2004 while trying to clear an ammunitions and weapons cache in Afghanistan.
“Every time someone travels over this bridge or on this road, they will be reminded of the veterans who kept this land free. This is just another way we can honor and memorialize their sacrifices.”
Contact:
Diane McNaughton (717) 787-1322 dmmcnaughton@pasen.gov