HB 2310

                                                 PRINTER'S NO.     3042
                THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
                    HOUSE BILL
                    No. 2310
                                           Session of
                                             2026
INTRODUCED BY RIGBY, SMITH, COOK, ANDERSON, STAATS AND JAMES,
   MARCH 20, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 23, 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 nine brothers and sisters:
14    Edward, William, Duane, Steven, Loretta, Madda, Bertha, Lucas
15    and Agnes Parks.
16(4)   Staff Sergeant Parks was married to Theresa (Roden)
17    Parks.
18(5)   Outside of service, Staff Sergeant Parks was
1    employed by Ebensburg Center, attended Holy Child Jesus
2    Catholic Church in Windber and was a member at American
3    Legion Post 137, formerly Hunter Weaver Post 795, VFW and DAV
4    Post 795.
5(6)    Staff Sergeant Parks enlisted in the United States
6    Army on January 21, 1941, and trained at Army camps in Texas,
7    Wisconsin and Louisiana before going overseas in October
8    1941.
9(7)    During deployment, Staff Sergeant Parks accomplished
10    a feat of heroism while occupying Guipavas, France.
11(8)    After discovering a machine gun position,
12    approximately 30 yards to its front, the patrol was preparing
13    to withdraw when Staff Sergeant Parks charged the German crew
14    and seized control before the six Nazi gunners could fire so
15    much as a single shot.
16(9)    With the machine gun knocked out, 21 other Germans
17    emerged from foxholes and hedgerows, surrendering to Staff
18    Sergeant Parks.
19(10)   Staff Sergeant Parks was a recipient of the Purple
20    Heart, Silver Star and Bronze Star.
21(11)   Accompanying the award of the Silver Star was a
22    citation telling in detail of his action stating, "the
23    gallantry and initiative above and beyond the duty displayed
24    by this enlisted man are in keeping with the highest
25    tradition of service."
26(12)   Staff Sergeant John P. Parks passed away at his
27    home in Windber on January 21, 1995, survived by one brother
28    and two sisters.
29    (b)   Designation.--The bridge, identified as Bridge Key
30 31485, located on Pennsylvania Route 601 in Paint Borough,
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1 Somerset County, is designated the Staff Sergeant John P. Parks
2 Memorial Bridge.
3    (c)   Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
4 maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to
5 traffic in both directions on the bridge.
6 Section 2.   Effective date.
7    This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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