STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator FRED H. MADDEN, JR.
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Senator DONALD NORCROSS
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Designates State Highway Route 42 as the “Route 42 Purple Heart Memorial Highway.”
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act designating State Highway Route No. 42 as the “Route 42 Purple Heart Memorial Highway.”
Whereas, The Purple Heart is America’s oldest military decoration, established by General George Washington in 1782 to recognize outstanding examples of bravery and sacrifice by the common soldier; and
Whereas, State Highway Route No. 42 runs through portions of Camden and Gloucester Counties; and
Whereas, The Battle of Gloucester in Camden County and the Battle of Red Bank in Gloucester County were both pivotal to ensuring the freedom of a new nation and the generations of its citizens to come; and
Whereas, Both battles were fought by common American troops who, despite being outnumbered, outgunned, and inexperienced as compared to their counterparts, fought with courage and sacrifice; and
Whereas, The Purple Heart continues to be awarded to extraordinarily brave men and women wounded in military service or given posthumously to the next of kin of those killed in action; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper for the Legislature of the State of New Jersey to honor all recipients of the Purple Heart – past, present, and future – for their bravery, heroic service, and sacrifice to the United States and to the State of New Jersey by designating State Highway Route No. 42 as the “Route 42 Purple Heart Memorial Highway”; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Commissioner of Transportation shall designate State Highway Route No. 42 as the “Route 42 Purple Heart Memorial Highway” and erect appropriate signs bearing this designation and dedication.
2. No State or other public funds shall be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing the designation established pursuant to section 1 of this act. The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to receive gifts, grants or other financial assistance from private sources for the purpose of funding or reimbursing the Department of Transportation for the costs associated with producing, purchasing, and erecting signs bearing the designation established pursuant to section 1 of this act and entering into agreements related thereto, with such private sources, including but not limited to non-governmental non-profit, educational or charitable entities or institutions. No work shall proceed, and no funding shall be accepted by the Department of Transportation until an agreement has been reached with a responsible party for paying the costs associated with producing, purchasing, erecting and maintaining the signs.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill designates State Highway Route No. 42 as the “Route 42 Purple Heart Memorial Highway” to honor the men and women who have received the Purple Heart in recognition of their extraordinary courage and sacrifice in military service to the United States and the cause of freedom throughout the world.
The Purple Heart was created by General George Washington in 1782 to recognize outstanding examples of braver and sacrifice by the common soldier and continues to be awarded to courageous men and women for their military service.