What's happening
This bill renames the Seaford pedestrian bridge on Route 135 as the "Abbey Gate Memorial Bridge".
Why it matters
Specifically affects Nassau County. , particularly the communities of Seaford and Wantagh in the town of Hempstead, highlighting local significance and community recognition.
Requires new signage and ongoing maintenance. by the New York State Department of Transportation, meaning state resources will be allocated to physically mark and maintain the memorial designation.
Symbolically honors a person, event, or group connected to "Abbey Gate". , providing official recognition and potentially fostering local pride, historical awareness, or remembrance among residents and passersby.
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Who cares
Families and Veterans Connected to Abbey Gate
Individuals and groups with a personal or emotional connection to Abbey Gate, such as veterans, Gold Star families, or those impacted by the Abbey Gate incident, will care about this recognition as a tribute to their loved ones or service.
Local Seaford and Wantagh Community Members
Residents and stakeholders in the hamlets of Seaford and Wantagh, as well as the broader Town of Hempstead, will care since the renaming impacts a local landmark and can foster community pride or remembrance.
Transportation and Commuter Stakeholders
Daily users of the Seaford pedestrian bridge, local commuters, and those interested in clear wayfinding will care about changes to signage and navigation resulting from the new designation.
Elected Officials and Civic Organizations
Local and state officials, veterans’ organizations, and civic groups who advocated for the renaming or support memorialization initiatives will care about the act's passage and its symbolic significance.
Headline styles
Name Seaford Bridge for Victims
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10356
IN SENATE
May 15, 2026
Introduced by Sen. RHOADS -- 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 Seaford pedestrian bridge as the "Abbey Gate Memorial Bridge"
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 256 to read as follows:
§ 256. Seaford pedestrian bridge to be designated as the "Abbey Gate Memorial Bridge". The Seaford pedestrian bridge that spans New York State Route 135, from Bayberry Lane in the hamlet of Seaford to Twisting Lane in the hamlet of Wantagh in the town of Hempstead, county of Nassau, shall be designated and known as the "Abbey Gate Memorial Bridge".
§ 2. The commissioner of transportation shall provide for the installation and maintenance of adequate signing as designated pursuant to section one 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.
LBD15524-01-6
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 Seaford pedestrian bridge as the "Abbey Gate Memorial Bridge"
Purpose or general idea of bill
Dedicated a pedestrian bridge in the hamlet of Seaford to the victims of the Abbey Gate attack.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. The highway law is amended by adding a new section 256 to read as follows:
§ 256. Seaford pedestrian bridge to be designated as the "Abby Gate Memorial Bridge." The Seaford pedestrian bridge that spans New York State Route 135, from Bayberry Lane in the hamlet of Seaford to the Twisting Lane in the hamlet of Wantagh in the town of Hempstead, county of Nassau, shall be designated and known as the "Abbey Gate Memorial Bridge."
§ 2. The commissioner of transportation shall provide for the installa- tion and maintenance of adequate signing as designated pursuant to section one of this act.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
On August 26, 2021, thirteen members of the United States armed forces, 11 Marines, a Navy Corpsman an Army soldier were killed in a suicide bombing at the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, during a non-combatant evacuation operation. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack which occurred amid a frantic, high-risk evacuation following the Taliban's takeover of the country.
Killed in the attack were Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Maxton W. Soviak, and Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss.
Shortly after the attack, members of the community created a memorial at the Seaford pedestrian bridge over the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway, (New York Route 135), displaying an American flag for each of the fallen as well as the flags of the United States Marine Corps, United States Army and United States Navy, reflecting their branches of service. This heartfelt memorial has been maintained by the public since the attack.
This legislation would take the step of formally dedicating this pedes- trian bridge as the "Abbey Gate Memorial Bridge" and place adequate signage reflecting such designation to honor those brave service members who gave their lives in defense of this Nation.
Legislative history
New bill.
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.