Section 49. S2 Earl J. Peters Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Earl J. Peters was born August 2, 1910, in Markleton, Somerset County.
(2) Mr. Peters was an S2 in the United States Navy, serving on the USS Indianapolis from January 25, 1944, to July 30, 1945.
(3) The USS Indianapolis's last mission was to carry parts of the first atomic bomb used in combat to a United States airbase on Tinian.
(4) On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis fell victim to a Japanese submarine.
(5) Within 12 minutes, 330 members of the ship's crew were lost with the ship and the rest, some 860 men, were left in the Pacific Ocean in the middle of the night.
(6) Mr. Peters was among the casualties in the attack.
(7) For the next five days, without food or water, the remaining crew battled the elements, dodged shark attacks and clung to life as best as they could.
(8) The sinking of the USS Indianapolis was the greatest single loss of life at sea in the history of the United States Navy, as out of the 1,195 sailors and marines on board, only 316 survived.
(9) Mr. Peters received the Purple Heart, Silver Star and Silver Cross for his sacrifice.
(b) Designation.--The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 31696, carrying State Route 3011 over the Casselman River in Black Township, Somerset County, is designated the S2 Earl J. Peters 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.