HB 2472 — An Act designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 31485, on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 601 in Paint Borough, Somerset County, as the Staff Sergeant John P. Parks Memorial Bridge.

PRINTER'S NO.     3305

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2472
                                                Session of
                                                  2026

     INTRODUCED BY RIGBY, APRIL 29, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, APRIL 29, 2026


                                     AN ACT
 1   Designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 31485, on that
 2      portion of Pennsylvania Route 601 in Paint Borough, Somerset
 3      County, as the Staff Sergeant John P. Parks Memorial Bridge.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6   Section 1.     Staff Sergeant John P. Parks Memorial Bridge.
 7      (a)     Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
 8   follows:
 9            (1)   John P. Parks was born June 21, 1913, in Beaverdale
10      and was the son of the late William and Mary (Ronan) Parks.
11            (2)   Staff Sergeant Parks attended Windber Area Schools
12      in Windber.
13            (3)   Staff Sergeant Parks had ten brothers and sisters:
14      Edward, William, Duane, Steven, Loretta, Bertha, Agnes,
15      Patrick, Mary and Patricia.
16            (4)   Staff Sergeant Parks was married to Theresa (Roden)
17      Parks.
18            (5)   Outside of service, Staff Sergeant Parks was
19      employed by Ebensburg Center, attended Holy Child Jesus
 1      Catholic Church in Windber and was a member at American
 2      Legion Post 137, formerly Hunter Weaver Post 795, VFW and DAV
 3      Post 795.
 4            (6)    Staff Sergeant Parks enlisted in the United States
 5      Army on January 21, 1941, and trained at Army camps in Texas,
 6      Wisconsin and Louisiana before going overseas in October
 7      1941.
 8            (7)    During deployment, Staff Sergeant Parks accomplished
 9      a feat of heroism while occupying Guipavas, France.
10            (8)    After discovering a machine gun position,
11      approximately 30 yards to its front, the patrol was preparing
12      to withdraw when Staff Sergeant Parks charged the German crew
13      and seized control before the six Nazi gunners could fire so
14      much as a single shot.
15            (9)    With the machine gun knocked out, 21 other Germans
16      emerged from foxholes and hedgerows, surrendering to Staff
17      Sergeant Parks.
18            (10)   Staff Sergeant Parks was a recipient of the Purple
19      Heart, Silver Star and Bronze Star.
20            (11)   Accompanying the award of the Silver Star was a
21      citation telling in detail of his action stating, "the
22      gallantry and initiative above and beyond the duty displayed
23      by this enlisted man are in keeping with the highest
24      tradition of service."
25            (12)   Staff Sergeant John P. Parks passed away at his
26      home in Windber on January 21, 1995, survived by one brother
27      and two sisters.
28      (b)   Designation.--The bridge, identified as Bridge Key
29   31485, located on Pennsylvania Route 601 in Paint Borough,
30   Somerset County, is designated the Staff Sergeant John P. Parks

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1   Memorial Bridge.
2      (c)   Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
3   maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to
4   traffic in both directions on the bridge.
5   Section 2.   Effective date.
6      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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