An Act designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 31485, on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 601 in Paint Borough, Somerset County, as the Staff Sergeant John P. Parks Memorial Bridge.

PRINTER'S NO. 3042
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2310
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY RIGBY, SMITH, COOK, ANDERSON, STAATS AND JAMES,
MARCH 20, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 23, 2026
AN ACT
Designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 31485, on that
portion of Pennsylvania Route 601 in Paint Borough, Somerset
County, as the Staff Sergeant John P. Parks Memorial Bridge.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Staff Sergeant John P. Parks Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) John P. Parks was born June 21, 1913, in Beaverdale
and was the son of the late William and Mary (Ronan) Parks.
(2) Staff Sergeant Parks attended Windber Area Schools
in Windber.
(3) Staff Sergeant Parks had nine brothers and sisters:
Edward, William, Duane, Steven, Loretta, Madda, Bertha, Lucas
and Agnes Parks.
(4) Staff Sergeant Parks was married to Theresa (Roden)
Parks.
(5) Outside of service, Staff Sergeant Parks was
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employed by Ebensburg Center, attended Holy Child Jesus
Catholic Church in Windber and was a member at American
Legion Post 137, formerly Hunter Weaver Post 795, VFW and DAV
Post 795.
(6) Staff Sergeant Parks enlisted in the United States
Army on January 21, 1941, and trained at Army camps in Texas,
Wisconsin and Louisiana before going overseas in October
1941.
(7) During deployment, Staff Sergeant Parks accomplished
a feat of heroism while occupying Guipavas, France.
(8) After discovering a machine gun position,
approximately 30 yards to its front, the patrol was preparing
to withdraw when Staff Sergeant Parks charged the German crew
and seized control before the six Nazi gunners could fire so
much as a single shot.
(9) With the machine gun knocked out, 21 other Germans
emerged from foxholes and hedgerows, surrendering to Staff
Sergeant Parks.
(10) Staff Sergeant Parks was a recipient of the Purple
Heart, Silver Star and Bronze Star.
(11) Accompanying the award of the Silver Star was a
citation telling in detail of his action stating, "the
gallantry and initiative above and beyond the duty displayed
by this enlisted man are in keeping with the highest
tradition of service."
(12) Staff Sergeant John P. Parks passed away at his
home in Windber on January 21, 1995, survived by one brother
and two sisters.
(b) Designation.--The bridge, identified as Bridge Key
31485, located on Pennsylvania Route 601 in Paint Borough,
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Somerset County, is designated the Staff Sergeant John P. Parks
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.
Section 2. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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