Section 35. 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) The 173rd Airborne Brigade was constituted in 1917 as an infantry brigade and deployed to France in 1918 as part of the 87th Division. Upon returning to the United States a year later, the brigade was demobilized.
(2) Redesignated as the 87th Reconnaissance Troop, the troop fought in three European campaigns. Although not part of the brigade in World War II, the history of the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment is significant to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, comprising half of its current fighting strength.
(3) The 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment was formed in 1941 at Fort Bragg. The regiment jumped into New Guinea in September 1943 as part of the first successful airborne combat jump in the Pacific Theater. On February 16, 1945, the regiment jumped onto the island of Corregidor and earned the Presidential Unit Citation.
(4) The 173rd Infantry Brigade was activated on Okinawa, Japan, in 1963 as the 173rd Airborne Brigade. The unit earned the nickname "Sky Soldiers" from the Nationalist Chinese paratroopers.
(5) In 1965, the 173rd Airborne Brigade became the first major unit of the United States Army to serve in Vietnam. The unit conducted the only combat parachute jump of the war in February 1967. During more than six years of continuous combat, the brigade earned 14 campaign streamers and four unit citations. Sky Soldiers serving in Vietnam earned 13 Medals of Honor. The brigade was deactivated in 1972.
(6) Reactivated in June 2000, the 173rd Airborne Brigade conducted numerous deployments across Europe. On March 26, 2003, the 173rd Airborne Brigade added to its distinguished history when nearly 1,000 Sky Soldiers parachuted into Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I. During the operation, one Sky Soldier was awarded the Silver Star.
(7) In 2005, the 173rd Airborne Brigade deployed to Afghanistan along the contentious Pakistan border in support of Operation Enduring Freedom VI. Five Sky Soldiers were awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in battle.
(8) Upon returning to Italy in 2006, the 173rd Airborne Brigade transformed into the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. In the spring of 2007, the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team executed an extended deployment to eastern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom VIII, where soldiers exhibited incredible bravery, earning one Medal of Honor, one Distinguished Service Cross and 32 Silver Stars.
(9) In 2009, the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team returned to Afghanistan for a third time in support of Operation Enduring Freedom X, continuing the team's proud tradition of selfless service while executing a difficult build mission south of Kabul.
(10) In 2012, the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team returned to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom XIII, returning to Logar and Wardak Provinces, where they executed the difficult task of reducing the footprint of the brigade while continuing to train their Afghan counterparts.
(11) Upon returning to Italy in 2013, the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team was redesignated as the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Today, Sky Soldiers continue the distinction of honored service dating back to World War I and proudly represent the Airborne fighting spirit wherever they serve.
(b) Designation.--The portion of Pennsylvania Route 173 between the southern border of Slippery Rock Township to the southern border of Slippery Rock Borough in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, is designated the 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to traffic in both directions on the highway.