Section 4. Major Tom Carr Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Tom M. Carr was born April 17, 1961, in Wilkes-Barre.
(2) Major Carr was a 1979 graduate of Erie Tech Memorial High School.
(3) Major Carr graduated from Clemson University in 1984, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering.
(4) In 1986, Major Carr began a distinguished military career in the United States Air Force as an F-16 fighter pilot.
(5) Major Carr was hand-picked for the Air Force "Elite" Fighter Weapons School, where he was praised for his outstanding leadership as senior ranking officer.
(6) During his service, Major Carr was stationed in Korea, the Persian Gulf, Italy, Bahrain, Bosnia and Iraq. He flew numerous combat missions, including during Operation Northern Watch in Iraq, and flew over 2,000 fighter sorties.
(7) After leaving active duty, Major Carr became an Air Force reservist assigned to the 93rd Fighter Squadron at Homestead Air Reserve Station in Florida, where he served as the Squadron Weapons Officer.
(8) Major Carr's outstanding professional skill, leadership and ceaseless efforts as an Air Force reservist facilitated two major overseas deployments, three live weapons deployments, one Operational Readiness Inspection and an expeditious conversion from the F-16A to the F-16C aircraft.
(9) On September 12, 1998, Major Carr sacrificed his life in defense of his nation when, during an Air Force attack-training mission, his F-16D jet went down over the Avon Bombing Range in Florida.
(10) Major Carr was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the President of the United States.
(b) Designation.--The bridge identified as Bridge Key 16385 on the portion of State Route 4016, also known as West 38th Street, between Schaper Avenue and Pittsburgh Avenue over Interstate 79 in the City of Erie is designated the Major Tom Carr 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 and to traffic in both directions on Interstate 79 crossing under the bridge.