Establish Laverne Parrish memorial highway

- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 SB 392
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – SB 392
ENROLLED BILL
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE LAVERNE PARRISH MEMORIAL HIGHWAY; DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION TO INSTALL SIGNS AND TO INCLUDE THE MEMORIAL HIGHWAY ON THE NEXT
PUBLICATION OF THE STATE MAP; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Laverne Parrish was born on July 16, 1918, to Clatious and Weltha Parrish; and
WHEREAS, Laverne Parrish graduated from Ronan High School in 1937; and
WHEREAS, Laverne Parrish enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1941, where he became a medical
aidman; and
WHEREAS, Laverne Parrish was assigned to the 161st Infantry, 25th Infantry Division and participated
in several major campaigns, including Guadalcanal, the Solomon Islands, and the Philippines; and
WHEREAS, on January 18, 1945, Laverne Parrish risked his life to save two wounded soldiers who
were under enemy fire, moving one man to cover and exposing himself to enemy fire across open ground to
provide aid to the second man; and
WHEREAS, on January 24, 1945, Laverne Parrish again risked his life to aid 12 wounded soldiers in an
open field, crossing and recrossing areas under enemy fire and making five successive trips to bring wounded
soldiers to safety; and
WHEREAS, on January 24, 1945, having treated nearly all 37 wounded soldiers in his company,
Laverne Parrish was killed by enemy mortar fire; and
WHEREAS, Laverne Parrish was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism
in Luzon, Philippine Islands, in 1945.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Laverne Parrish memorial highway. There is established the Laverne Parrish memorial
- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 SB 392
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – SB 392
ENROLLED BILL
highway on the existing state highway 93 from mile marker 48 to mile marker 51.
(2) The department shall design and install appropriate signs marking the location of the Laverne
Parrish memorial highway.
(3) Maps that identify roadways in the state must be updated to include the location of the Laverne
Parrish memorial highway when the department updates and publishes the state maps.
Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title
60, chapter 1, part 2, and the provisions of Title 60, chapter 1, part 2, apply to [section 1].
Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
- END -
I hereby certify that the within bill,
SB 392, originated in the Senate.
___________________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
___________________________________________
President of the Senate
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
SENATE BILL NO. 392
INTRODUCED BY G. HERTZ
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE LAVERNE PARRISH MEMORIAL HIGHWAY; DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION TO INSTALL SIGNS AND TO INCLUDE THE MEMORIAL HIGHWAY ON THE NEXT
PUBLICATION OF THE STATE MAP; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.