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WAGNER TO HOST VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION
Renaming I-79 bridge for WWII shipbuilders
PITTSBURGH (Nov. 7, 2003) As part of regional
Veterans Day celebrations, State Senator Jack Wagner will host an
unveiling of new signs designating the bridge on Interstate 79 over the
Ohio River at Neville Island in Allegheny County as the Pittsburgh
Naval and Shipbuilders Memorial Bridge 1941-1945.
We must never forget the contributions of Pittsburghs veterans,
workers, and steel industry to the cause of freedom around the world,
said Wagner.
The event will take place at the
southbound sign on Tuesday, November 11, 2003 at 2:00 p.m.
The name change is a tribute to the Dravo Corporations support of the
Allies effort to win World War II.
The employees of Dravo, which was located on Neville Island, built
hundreds of the Landing Ship Tanks used in landings in the Europe and
Pacific theaters of the war.
The bridges name was officially changed by a Wagner-sponsored provision
in Act 17 of 2001. Although the name change took effect over two years ago, no
signs had been installed informing the public of the change.
Thanks to a state grant recently secured by Wagner, new signs have
been placed on the northbound and southbound lanes.
Just as the bridge has connected one river bank to another, said
Wagner, it will now connect the Greatest Generation with those
who benefit from their sacrifices."
The sign unveiling is just the latest in Wagner-supported Veterans Day
celebrations. Pittsburghs
annual Veterans Day Parade will be held as scheduled, despite the
citys financial problems, thanks to a state grant secured by Wagner.
In addition, Wagner, a decorated Marine Corps infantry veteran of
the Vietnam War, introduced Senate Resolution 173, which commemorates
November 10, 2003 as the 228th birthday of the United States
Marine Corps. The resolution
was passed by the State Senate last month.
DIRECTIONS TO EVENT: Take
I-79 South towards Exit 65 (Neville Island).
The new sign is on the right shoulder of the road before the
bridge.
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