Designates the bridge on U.S. route 20, between Oak street and South Portage street, in the town of Westfield, county of Chautauqua, as the "Sergeant Kevin W. White Memorial Bridge"

Title of bill

An act to amend the highway law, in relation to designating a portion of the state highway system as the "Sergeant Kevin W. White Memorial Bridge"

Purpose or general idea of bill

To designate a bridge on U.S. Route 20, between Oak street and South Portage street, in the town of Westfield, County of Chautauqua, as the "Sergeant Kevin W. White Memorial Bridge."

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1. Adds a new subdivision (e) to Section 344 of the highway law designating the bridge on U.S. Route 20, between Oak street and South Portage street, in the town of Westfield, county of Chautauqua, as the "Sergeant Kevin W. White Memorial Bridge."

Section 2. Provides that the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation shall provide for the installation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state highway system as designated pursuant to section one of this act.

Justification

Sergeant Kevin W. White was born and raised in Westfield, New York on May 20, 1988. Upon his graduation from Westfield Academy Central School in 2006, Sergeant White enlisted with the United States Army. He received Basic Infantry and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia and was subsequently stationed in Baumholder, Germany with the First Armored Division as a Bradley Armored Personnel Carrier driver.

From April 2008 to June 2009, Sergeant White was deployed to Iraq, where he drove the lead Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle in over 200 patrols, earning him the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. On one such patrol in January 2009, Sergeant White's MRAP was struck by an explosive device which caused severe damage to the vehicle, but left Sergeant White and his fellow soldiers unharmed, which earned them the Combat Infantry Badge.

Sergeant White re-enlisted in the Army while still deployed in Iraq, and in October of 2009, he was re-assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii with the 25th Infantry Division. He also volunteered for training to earn his Air Assault Badge at the Sabalauski Air Assault School with the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

In April of 2007, Sergeant White deployed to the Pech River Valley, Kunar Province, Afghanistan, which lies near the border of Pakistan. Less than a month into his Afghanistan deployment, Sergeant White volunteered to command the lead patrol vehicle. On May 2nd, 2011, Sergeant White was killed when his vehicle was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device.

He had earned but had not yet had the opportunity to be awarded the rank of Sergeant at the time of his death. He was awarded the promotion posthumously, as well as the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, his second Army Commendation Medal, the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross with two silver devices and the Hawaii Medal of Honor.

Prior legislative history

New Bill. FISCAL. IMPLICATIONS :

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.