What's happening
This bill designates a portion of State Route 394 in Lakewood, NY as the "Lance Corporal Aaron M. Swanson Memorial Highway."
Why it matters
Honors Local Sacrifice. By naming the highway after Lance Corporal Aaron M. Swanson, the bill publicly recognizes and memorializes a fallen service member from the local community, reinforcing the importance of honoring military service and sacrifice.
Community Identity and Remembrance. The designation can foster a sense of pride and collective memory in Lakewood, encouraging residents and travelers to reflect on the contributions of local heroes.
Ceremonial Nature—No Practical Disruption. The bill explicitly states the naming is ceremonial and will not change the official designation of the highway, minimizing administrative or logistical burdens while still allowing for visible signs and public acknowledgment.
Potential for Educational Impact. The presence of commemorative signage may prompt conversations and learning about Lance Corporal Swanson’s life and broader issues related to military service, valor, and remembrance among passersby and younger generations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Name Highway for Marine 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 bills
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 Fallen Marine
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Thomas F. O'Mara
Name Highway for Local Hero
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Andrew Goodell
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
913
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 "Lance Corporal Aaron M. Swanson 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 "Lance Corporal Aaron M. Swanson Memorial Highway". All that portion of the state highway system constituting state route three hundred ninetyfour in the village of Lakewood, county of Chautauqua, shall be designated and known as the "Lance Corporal Aaron M. Swanson 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.
LBD04030-01-9
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 "Lance Corporal Aaron M. Swanson Memori- al Highway"
Purpose or general idea of bill
Designates State Route 394 in the Village of Lakewood, County of Chau- tauqua, as the "Lance Corporal Aaron M. Swanson Memorial Highway."
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: Amends the highway law by adding a new section 344-h, which designates State Route 394 in the Village of Lakewood, county of Chau- tauqua, as the "Lance Corporal Aaron M. Swanson 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
Lance Corporal Aaron M. Swanson served his nation in Afghanistan assigned to the United States Marine's 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regi- ment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, Buffalo, New York. Lance Corporal Swanson tragically lost his life in service to our coun- try on February 7, 2011 while conducting combat operations in Garmsir District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Lance Corporal Swanson was a native of Lakewood, New York, a graduate of Southwestern High School in Jamestown, and attended Jamestown Community College prior to serving in the Marines. The Chautauqua County Legisla- ture has expressed its desire to honor Lance Corporal Swanson. The Chau- tauqua County Legislature, by unanimous vote, adopted a formal resol- ution requesting this legislation. The dedication of State Route 394 in the Village of Lakewood 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.8854/A.10973 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.