Section 11. U.S. Army Technical Sergeant Joseph F. Johnston Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Technical Sergeant Joseph F. Johnston was born November 27, 1917, and grew up in Dean, Cambria County.
(2) He was a 1938 graduate of Cresson High School.
(3) In June 1941, Technical Sergeant Johnston enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to the 9th Division, 39th Infantry Regiment where he became a technical sergeant and platoon leader.
(4) Technical Sergeant Johnston's service took him to every Atlantic theater of action including the United Kingdom, North Africa and most of Western Europe.
(5) Technical Sergeant Johnston fought in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, England, Belgium and Germany and was at the invasion of Normandy on June 12, 1944.
(6) During the battles of Tunisia, Technical Sergeant Johnston, then a corporal, took command of his platoon in the absence of his platoon leader and sergeant. In blackout conditions, Technical Sergeant Johnston led his platoon under heavy enemy shelling and machine gun fire and through difficult mountainous terrain to deliver supplies to those fighting on the front lines.
(7) For his actions during the battles of Tunisia, Technical Sergeant Johnston was awarded the Legion of Merit.
(8) Technical Sergeant Johnston also received a Bronze Star and Sliver Star for his service to our country.
(9) Technical Sergeant Johnston passed away on November 7, 2010.
(b) Designation.--The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8392, carrying Pennsylvania Route 53 over Bruebaker Run in Dean Township, Cambria County, is designated as the U.S. Army Technical Sergeant Joseph F. Johnston Memorial Bridge.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to traffic in both directions on the bridge.