What's happening
This bill designates a portion of State Route 60 in Jamestown as the "Private Charles S. Cooper, Jr. Memorial Highway."
Why it matters
Honors Local Military Service. The designation recognizes and memorializes Private Charles S. Cooper, Jr., highlighting his service and sacrifice, which can foster community pride and remembrance of local veterans.
Ceremonial Impact, Not Administrative. The bill specifies that the designation is ceremonial only, meaning the official name of the highway remains unchanged, minimizing administrative costs or logistical disruptions for residents and businesses.
Public Awareness and Education. Installing signage draws attention to Private Cooper’s story, potentially educating travelers and residents about local history and the individuals who have served, thereby deepening civic engagement and historical awareness.
Sets Precedent for Future Memorials. By creating a process for honoring individuals through ceremonial highway designations, this bill could encourage similar recognitions for other local heroes, shaping how communities commemorate their history.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Honor Highway for War Hero
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Recommit, enacting clause stricken
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Name Highway for Local Hero
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Thomas F. O'Mara
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
881
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. YOUNG -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to designating a portion of the state highway system as the "Private Charles S. Cooper, Jr. Memorial Highway"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The highway law is amended by adding a new section 344-i to read as follows:
§ 344-i. Portion of the state highway system to be designated as the "Private Charles S. Cooper, Jr. Memorial Highway". All that portion of the state highway system constituting state route sixty in the city of Jamestown, county of Chautauqua, shall be designated and known as the "Private Charles S. Cooper, Jr. Memorial Highway".
§ 2. The commissioner 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. However, to avoid confusion and to limit any possible disruption of commerce, the designation called for pursuant to section one of this act shall be one of ceremonial nature and the official name of such highway shall not be changed as a result of this act.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04028-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to designating a portion of the state highway system as the "Private Charles S. Cooper, Jr. Memorial Highway"
Purpose or general idea of bill
Designates State Route 60 in the City of Jamestown, County of Chautau- qua, as the "Private Charles S. Cooper, Jr. Memorial Highway."
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: Amends the highway law by adding a new section 344-h, which designates State Route 60 in the City of Jamestown, county of Chautau- qua, as the "Private Charles S. Cooper, Jr. Memorial Highway."
Section 2: States that the commissioner of transportation shall provide for the installation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state highway systems as designated pursuant to section 1 of this act. The designation will be for ceremonial purposes only, and the roads official name will not be changed as a result of this act.
Section 3: Provides that the act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
Private Charles S. Cooper, Jr. served his nation in Iraq assigned to the United States Army's 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) Fort Drum, New York. Private Cooper tragically lost his life in service to our country on April 29, 2005 after an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated while he was on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq. Only weeks earlier, on April 12, 2005, Private Cooper had received the Purple Heart Medal after being injured by shrapnel from another IED in Iraq. In addition to the Purple Heart, Private Cooper received the Army Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Combat Infan- try Badge, and a Bronze Star.
Private Cooper was born on February 29, 1986 and was a lifelong resident of Chautauqua County and a 2004 graduate of Jamestown High School, enlisting in the Army four days after graduation. The Chautauqua County Legislature has expressed its desire to honor Private Cooper. The Chau- tauqua County Legislature, by unanimous vote, adopted a formal resol- ution requesting this legislation. The dedication of State Route 60 in the City of Jamestown is but one small way for this state to honor the bravery, dedication and ultimate sacrifice of this brave American hero.
Prior legislative history
2018: S.8852/A.10974 Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.