Pennsylvania 2023-2024 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HR261

Introduced
11/13/23  

Caption

Recognizing the Lost 74 and all sailors who ever served aboard the Destroyer USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754).

Impact

While HR261 is primarily a resolution aimed at honoring military personnel, it holds significant cultural and historical implications. The act of recognizing the Lost 74 provides an opportunity for the state of Pennsylvania to acknowledge the sacrifices made by these sailors, including five individuals from Pennsylvania, thus reinforcing the state's commitment to honoring military service. By bringing attention to this event, the resolution aims to address the long-standing omission in memorializing these sailors, contributing to a broader understanding of the Vietnam War’s legacy and its impact on American society.

Summary

House Resolution 261 (HR261) serves as a formal recognition of the sailors who served aboard the USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754), particularly commemorating those who tragically lost their lives when the ship collided with another naval vessel during a training exercise in the South China Sea in 1969. The resolution emphatically honors the 'Lost 74', acknowledging that these service members have yet to receive proper recognition due to the circumstances surrounding their deaths, which occurred outside the established combat zone, rendering them ineligible for inclusion on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Sentiment

The general sentiment surrounding HR261 appears to be one of unity and respect. Legislators from various backgrounds and parties have co-sponsored the resolution, reflecting a shared recognition of the importance of honoring those who served. The acknowledgment of the Lost 74 is consistent with a growing trend of identifying and rectifying historical oversights related to military service, particularly for those individuals whose contributions have been overlooked due to bureaucratic classifications. This alignment of sentiment positions HR261 as a beacon of respect for sacrifice, transcending partisan divides.

Contention

Notably, while HR261 is largely supportive and seeks to honor the Lost 74, some discussions may arise regarding the broader implications of military recognition and veterans' rights. Questions may be raised about ensuring that all service members and their sacrifices receive appropriate recognition. However, these points of contention are minimal in the context of this resolution, which predominantly serves as a means to celebrate and honor the legacy of those sailors who gave their lives in service of their country.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SCR143

USS Frank E. Evans Lost 74 Memorial Interchange and Bridge.

PA SCR26

Recognizing Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary Memorial Service in honor of the crew of the USS Frank E. Evans.

PA HCR3005

A concurrent resolution urging the 119th Congress to provide for the inclusion on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall the names of the lost crew members of the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans.

PA HB3826

USS Frank E. Evans Act

PA HCR3008

A concurrent resolution urging the 118th Congress to take favorable action on S. 849 and H.R. 7972, to provide for the inclusion on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall the names of the lost crew members of the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans.

PA HCR16

Recognizing the victims of the Port Chicago explosion of July 17, 1944, the 79th anniversary of the greatest homeland loss of life of World War II, and exonerating the 50 African-American sailors unjustly court-martialed by the Navy.

PA SCR0044

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating Commander Douglas A. Robb, United States Navy, upon his assumption of command over the guided missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111).

PA SB1144

Designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8404, on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 56 over the Stony Creek River, City of Johnstown, Cambria County, as the PFC Dr. Alex W. Barber Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 42031, located on that portion of U.S. Route 219 over Pentz Run on the border of Sandy Township and the City of DuBois, Clearfield County, as the Trooper First Class Brad Wilson Honorary Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 5796, carrying State Route 4001 over U.S. Route 22 in Allegheny Township, Blair County, as the LCPL Ralph J. Fabbri USMC Memorial Bridge; designating a portion of Pennsylvania Route 31 from the intersection with First Street to the intersection with Yoder Avenue in the Borough of Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, as the Mayor Gerald D. Lucia Memorial Highway; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8569, carrying State Route 1021 over Glendale Lake in White Township, Cambria County, as the CPL Reid Rex Ross 3 BN 26 Marine Reg. Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 57664, on Pennsylvania Route 924 over the railroad, located in Gilberton Borough, Schuylkill County, as the Walter Skubel Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 28762, on State Route 3011 over the Monocacy Creek, located in Bethlehem City, Northampton County, as the Raphael Rivera Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 29525, located on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 233 over Sherman Creek in Tyrone Township, Perry County, as the Lance Corporal Jason Frye Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 52686, carrying Pennsylvania Route 441 over U.S. Route 30 in Columbia Borough, Lancaster County, as the Major General Edward C. Shannon Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 5802, carrying Logan Boulevard over Norfolk Southern Railroad in the City of Altoona, Blair County, as the CPL Patrick C. Farrell and PVT James J. Farrell Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 5879, carrying State Route 4027 (South Eagle Valley Road) over Bald Eagle Creek in Snyder Township, Blair County, as the SGM Charles B. Mills, Sr. Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 18728, carrying Pennsylvania Route 829 over the Juniata River in Union Township, Huntingdon County, as the PFC Charles Shore Greenland Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 18843, carrying State Route 3006 (Logging Road 31011) over Great Trough Creek in Wood Township, Huntingdon County, as the PFC Wasco (Spider) Pawuk Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 31529, carrying State Route 1007 over the Stonycreek River in Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, as the Corporal Carl Lynn Walker Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 7027, carrying Pennsylvania Route 413 over U.S. Route 1 in Middletown Township, Bucks County, as the Lance Corporal John F. Muffler Memorial Bridge; designating a portion of U.S. Route 222 from the interchange with U.S. Route 30 in Manheim Township to the interchange with Interstate 76, also known as the Pennsylvania Turnpike, in East Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, as the Senator Noah W. Wenger Memorial Highway; designating the westbound bridge carrying Interstate 90 over Six Mile Creek in Harborcreek Township, Erie County, as the Cpl. Jarrid L. King Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified by Bridge Key 31447, carrying Pennsylvania Route 403 over the Stonycreek River in Quemahoning Township, Somerset County, as the Captain Leroy Freeman Berkebile Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8414, carrying Pennsylvania Route 56 over Walters Avenue in Richland Township, Cambria County, as the PFC Wallace Rice Memorial Bridge; designating the bridges, identified as Southern Beltway 258 and Southern Beltway 259, in Cecil Township, Washington County, as the Lance Corporal Robert Alan "Bucky" McPherson Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 22612, located on Pennsylvania Route 72 in Swatara Township, Lebanon County, over the Swatara Creek as the Senator David J. Arnold, Jr., Memorial Bridge; designating the bridge, identified as Bridge Key 5059, carrying State Route 2021 over Mineral Springs Creek in the City of Reading, Berks County, as the PFC Lawrence J. Deisher Memorial Bridge; designating the bridge, identified as Bridge Key 6917, carrying State Route 4202 over Pennsylvania Route 611 in Doylestown Township, Bucks County, as the Donald E. Parlee Memorial Bridge; designating the portion of State Route 2017, also known as Lisburn Road, from Segment 90/Offset 300 to Segment 90/Offset 2200 in Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, as the Sgt. Josue "Rocky" Saez, Jr., Memorial Road; designating the portion of State Route 1016, also known as Holme Avenue, from the intersection with Winchester Avenue to the intersection with Holme Circle, in the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, as the Sergeant Timothy Simpson Memorial Road; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8345, on that portion of U.S. Route 22 over Howells Run in Cambria Township, Cambria County, as the Michael G. Tsikalas Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8344, carrying U.S. Route 22 over Pennsylvania Route 160, also known as New Germany Road, in Cambria Township, Cambria County, as the Charles J. Vizzini Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 3795, carrying Pennsylvania Route 251 over Interstate 376 in Chippewa Township, Beaver County, as the Private Mahlon R. Evans Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 57032, carrying Pennsylvania Route 351 over the Beaver River between Koppel Borough and North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, as the Sgt. Skip Haswell Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge carrying the Pennsylvania Turnpike Mainline Eastbound over the Beaver River at mile marker 13.2 in Beaver County as the Colonel Joseph H. Thompson Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge carrying the Pennsylvania Turnpike Mainline Westbound over the Beaver River at mile marker 13.2 in Beaver County as the Colonel Matthew S. Quay Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 68136, carrying State Route 4028 over Mill Creek in Hamburg Borough, Berks County, as the Sergeant Jackie Seltzer Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 52786, carrying Pennsylvania Route 213 over the Neshaminy Creek in Lower Southampton Township, Bucks County, as the Ensign Sarah Mitchell Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 47666, carrying U.S. Route 219 over the West Branch Susquehanna River in Susquehanna Township, Cambria County, as the Staff Sergeant Peter P. Abromovich Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 48914, carrying Gallitzin Road, State Route 53, over Norfolk Southern Railroad, located in Gallitzin Township, Cambria County, as the Corporal James R. Beck USMC Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 52761, carrying Pennsylvania Route 53 over Clearfield Creek in Gallitzin Township, Cambria County, as the Private Philip A. Watt Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8645, carrying Galleria Drive (State Route 3031) over U.S. Route 219 in Richland Township, Cambria County, as the PFC Paul O. Malzi and PFC Harry R. Malzi Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 9755, carrying State Route 3027 over the Moshannon Creek in Rush Township, Centre County, as the Osceola Mills World War II Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 11380, carrying U.S. Route 219 over the West Branch Susquehanna River in Burnside Borough, Clearfield County, as the Sarah "Marie" Blose Rorabaugh Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 11226, carrying Pennsylvania Route 53 over the Clearfield Creek in Bigler Township, Clearfield County, as the Sergeant John Harold Branic Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 13685, carrying Army Heritage Drive over Interstate 81 in Middlesex Township, Cumberland County, as the Major General Harold "Harry" Greene Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 56021, carrying Pennsylvania Route 997 over Conodoguinet Creek in Letterkenny Township, Franklin County, as the Pvt. Clyde C. McVitty Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 18248, carrying State Route 2003 over Dunkard Creek in Mt. Morris, Perry Township, Greene County, as the H. Ronald Hoskinson Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 52783, carrying Pennsylvania Route 913 over Shoup Run in Coalmont Borough, Huntingdon County, as the Private Samuel H. Thompson Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 68411, carrying Jacksonville Road (State Route 3016) over Two Lick Creek in Homer City, Indiana County, as the Staff Sergeant William Stivison Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 67935, carrying State Route 1015 over the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River in Allegheny Township, Somerset County, as the Staff Sergeant William Will Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 31544, carrying State Route 1016 over the Dark Shade Creek in Shade Township, Somerset County, as the Seaman First Class Raymond Kozik Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 31426, carrying East Campus Avenue over U.S. Route 219 in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, as the Kenneth J. Newcomer Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 31696, carrying State Route 3011 over the Casselman River in Black Township, Somerset County, as the S2 Earl J. Peters Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 36247, carrying Pennsylvania Route 711 over Loyalhanna Creek in Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County, as the Staff Sergeant Alvin P. Carey and Private John C. Ewing Medal of Honor Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 54167, carrying U.S. Route 30 over Paradise Creek between Paradise Township and Jackson Township, York County, as the Private Edward J. Stambaugh Memorial Bridge; designating a portion of U.S. Route 522 from the intersection with Main Street to the intersection with Town Hill Street in Shade Gap Borough, Huntingdon County, as the Special Agent Terry R. Anderson Memorial Highway; designating a portion of State Route 2008 from the intersection with State Route 2009 to the intersection with Pennsylvania Route 56 in West Wheatfield Township and East Wheatfield Township, Indiana County, as the Robindale Memorial Highway; designating the interchange of Interstate 380 with Pennsylvania Route 940 in Tobyhanna Township, Monroe County, as the William F. Quinn Memorial Interchange; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8574, carrying State Route 1021 over Clearfield Creek in White Township, Cambria County, as the Sergeant Charles Owen Jenkins, Jr., Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, carrying the Pennsylvania Turnpike 576 Southern Beltway Eastbound and Westbound over Pennsylvania Route 980 at mile marker S-12.35, as the Terry D. Tackett Jr. Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 56737, carrying Pennsylvania Route 74 over the Little Conewago Creek in Dover Township, York County, as the Corporal William E. Heilman Memorial Bridge; and making repeals.

PA HB2453

Designating the bridge, identified as Bridge Key 5059, carrying State Route 2021 over Mineral Springs Creek in the City of Reading, Berks County, as the PFC Lawrence J. Deisher Memorial Bridge; designating the bridge, identified as Bridge Key 6917, carrying State Route 4202 over Pennsylvania Route 611 in Doylestown Township, Bucks County, as the Donald E. Parlee Memorial Bridge; designating the portion of State Route 2017, also known as Lisburn Road, from Segment 90/Offset 300 to Segment 90/Offset 2200 in Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, as the Sgt. Josue "Rocky" Saez, Jr., Memorial Road; designating the portion of State Route 1016, also known as Holme Avenue, from the intersection with Winchester Avenue to the intersection with Holme Circle, in the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, as the Sergeant Timothy Simpson Memorial Road; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8345, on that portion of U.S. Route 22 over Howells Run in Cambria Township, Cambria County, as the Michael G. Tsikalas Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8344, carrying U.S. Route 22 over Pennsylvania Route 160, also known as New Germany Road, in Cambria Township, Cambria County, as the Charles J. Vizzini Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 3795, carrying Pennsylvania Route 251 over Interstate 376 in Chippewa Township, Beaver County, as the Private Mahlon R. Evans Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 57032, carrying Pennsylvania Route 351 over the Beaver River between Koppel Borough and North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, as the Sgt. Skip Haswell Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge carrying the Pennsylvania Turnpike Mainline Eastbound over the Beaver River at mile marker 13.2 in Beaver County as the Colonel Joseph H. Thompson Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge carrying the Pennsylvania Turnpike Mainline Westbound over the Beaver River at mile marker 13.2 in Beaver County as the Colonel Matthew S. Quay Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 68136, carrying State Route 4028 over Mill Creek in Hamburg Borough, Berks County, as the Sergeant Jackie Seltzer Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 52786, carrying Pennsylvania Route 213 over the Neshaminy Creek in Lower Southampton Township, Bucks County, as the Ensign Sarah Mitchell Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 47666, carrying U.S. Route 219 over the West Branch Susquehanna River in Susquehanna Township, Cambria County, as the Staff Sergeant Peter P. Abromovich Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 48914, carrying Gallitzin Road, State Route 53, over Norfolk Southern Railroad, located in Gallitzin Township, Cambria County, as the Corporal James R. Beck USMC Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 52761, carrying Pennsylvania Route 53 over Clearfield Creek in Gallitzin Township, Cambria County, as the Private Philip A. Watt Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8645, carrying Galleria Drive (State Route 3031) over U.S. Route 219 in Richland Township, Cambria County, as the PFC Paul O. Malzi and PFC Harry R. Malzi Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 9755, carrying State Route 3027 over the Moshannon Creek in Rush Township, Centre County, as the Osceola Mills World War II Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 11380, carrying U.S. Route 219 over the West Branch Susquehanna River in Burnside Borough, Clearfield County, as the Sarah "Marie" Blose Rorabaugh Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 11226, carrying Pennsylvania Route 53 over the Clearfield Creek in Bigler Township, Clearfield County, as the Sergeant John Harold Branic Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 13685, carrying Army Heritage Drive over Interstate 81 in Middlesex Township, Cumberland County, as the Major General Harold "Harry" Greene Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 56021, carrying Pennsylvania Route 997 over Conodoguinet Creek in Letterkenny Township, Franklin County, as the Pvt. Clyde C. McVitty Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 18248, carrying State Route 2003 over Dunkard Creek in Mt. Morris, Perry Township, Greene County, as the H. Ronald Hoskinson Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 52783, carrying Pennsylvania Route 913 over Shoup Run in Coalmont Borough, Huntingdon County, as the Private Samuel H. Thompson Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 68411, carrying Jacksonville Road (State Route 3016) over Two Lick Creek in Homer City, Indiana County, as the Staff Sergeant William Stivison Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 67935, carrying State Route 1015 over the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River in Allegheny Township, Somerset County, as the Staff Sergeant William Will Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 31544, carrying State Route 1016 over the Dark Shade Creek in Shade Township, Somerset County, as the Seaman First Class Raymond Kozik Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 31426, carrying East Campus Avenue over U.S. Route 219 in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, as the Kenneth J. Newcomer Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 31696, carrying State Route 3011 over the Casselman River in Black Township, Somerset County, as the S2 Earl J. Peters Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 36247, carrying Pennsylvania Route 711 over Loyalhanna Creek in Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County, as the Staff Sergeant Alvin P. Carey and Private John C. Ewing Medal of Honor Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 54167, carrying U.S. Route 30 over Paradise Creek between Paradise Township and Jackson Township, York County, as the Private Edward J. Stambaugh Memorial Bridge; designating a portion of U.S. Route 522 from the intersection with Main Street to the intersection with Town Hill Street in Shade Gap Borough, Huntingdon County, as the Special Agent Terry R. Anderson Memorial Highway; designating a portion of State Route 2008 from the intersection with State Route 2009 to the intersection with Pennsylvania Route 56 in West Wheatfield Township and East Wheatfield Township, Indiana County, as the Robindale Memorial Highway; designating the interchange of Interstate 380 with Pennsylvania Route 940 in Tobyhanna Township, Monroe County, as the William F. Quinn Memorial Interchange; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8574, carrying State Route 1021 over Clearfield Creek in White Township, Cambria County, as the Sergeant Charles Owen Jenkins, Jr., Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, carrying the Pennsylvania Turnpike 576 Southern Beltway Eastbound and Westbound over Pennsylvania Route 980 at mile marker S-12.35, as the Terry D. Tackett Jr. Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 56737, carrying Pennsylvania Route 74 over the Little Conewago Creek in Dover Township, York County, as the Corporal William E. Heilman Memorial Bridge; and making repeals.

PA SCR135

Commends the USS Orleck destroyer, docked in Lake Charles, and designates the ship as the Official Vietnam Memorial Ship for Louisiana.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.