Section 30. Captain Robert M. Young Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Robert Milton Young was born January 17, 1945, in New Alexandria and spent most of his adult life in Saltsburg, where he lived with his aunt, Clayre Rochella.
(2) Captain Young graduated from Saltsburg High School and attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was commissioned through the Army ROTC on May 28, 1967.
(3) Captain Young went on to attend Infantry School, Ranger School and Armor School before serving with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Armored Division in Europe from January 1968 to August 1969.
(4) Captain Young was transferred to the 184th Ordnance Battalion in the Republic of Vietnam and served as the Commander of the 630th Ordnance Company from August 1969 until January 1970, when he was transferred to the Infantry Branch and served with Headquarters 2nd Battalion, 34th Armored Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division.
(5) On May 2, 1970, Captain Young was a passenger aboard a UH-1H Iroquois helicopter on a logistical support mission to Katum fire support base in Vietnam.
(6) During its flight, the helicopter sustained damage from ground fire and was forced to make an emergency landing along the border of Cambodia and South Vietnam where, upon landing, Captain Young and the others aboard the helicopter were captured and taken as prisoners of war in Cambodia.
(7) While serving as a prisoner of war, Captain Young helped to carry out a hunger strike to back the senior ranking officer who had been denied food and water for refusing to make fungi sticks.
(8) Following several days of the hunger strike, Captain Young became sick with Malaria and was unable to consume any food upon completion of the strike.
(9) On September 17, 1972, Captain Young succumbed to his illness while in captivity.
(10) Because of his valor and courage while serving as a prisoner of war in Cambodia, Captain Young was awarded the Silver Star.
(11) Captain Young's remains returned to the United States on December 7, 1997, and he is buried in Edgewood Cemetery in Saltsburg.
(b) Designation.--The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 47515, carrying Pennsylvania Route 286 over Blacklegs Creek in Conemaugh Township, Indiana County, is designated as the Captain Robert M. Young 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.