HB 2472

                                                 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
20260HB2472PN3305  - 2 -
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.
20260HB2472PN3305  - 3 -