Section 5. Army Specialist Richard W. Kowalewski, Jr., Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Richard W. Kowalewski, Jr., was born on March 31, 1973, in Waynesburg.
(2) Richard W. Kowalewski, Jr., enlisted in the United States Army and completed basic training in June 1992.
(3) Specialist Kowalewski was later assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.
(4) As part of a United Nations peacekeeping operation, Specialist Kowalewski was deployed to Somalia in August 1993.
(5) On October 3, 1993, Specialist Kowalewski, along with 17 other men, was killed in the Battle of Mogadishu. During the battle, a group of Somalis, armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, ambushed Specialist Kowalewski's convoy while in route to rescue downed pilots of a Black Hawk helicopter.
(6) The encounter has been described as one of our country's most violent firefights since Vietnam. The battle was later depicted in the famous novel and movie "Black Hawk Down."
(7) For his heroic actions during battle, Specialist Kowalewski was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor and the Purple Heart.
(b) Designation.--The Bridge located on State Route 88 in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Section Q10, Segment 0300/0000, Structure Number S-31843, over Muddy Creek is hereby designated the Army Specialist Richard W. Kowalewski, Jr., Memorial Bridge.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs which shall display the name of the bridge designated in subsection (b).