Section 9. Lance Corporal Abram Howard Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal Abram L. Howard, from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was killed in action at 21 years of age on July 27, 2010, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
(2) Lance Corporal Howard enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on April 9, 2007, and graduated in June 2007 from Williamsport High School where he played football and wrestled.
(3) Lance Corporal Howard entered boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, on January 8, 2008.
(4) Lance Corporal Howard was a third generation Marine and the 12th member of his family to enlist and serve.
(5) Following his graduation from Marine Combat Training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Lance Corporal Howard graduated from Military Police School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in September 2008.
(6) Lance Corporal Howard volunteered for deployment to Afghanistan in December of 2009 and made the ultimate sacrifice on July 27, 2010.
(7) While on a partnered patrol with Afghan National Police and the United States Marines, his team was ambushed and Lance Corporal Howard was fatally wounded.
(8) Without his judgment and decisive actions prior to the attack, the rest of his team would have proceeded directly into the enemy ambush, which would have ultimately wounded or killed other members of his patrol.
(9) For his bravery, Lance Corporal Howard received the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with distinguished "V" device, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Armed Forces Service Medal and NATO Medal.
(b) Redesignation.--The Duboistown Bridge located on Arch Street connecting Williamsport and Duboistown over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, Lycoming County, is hereby redesignated the Lance Corporal Abram Howard 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.