Sponsored by:
Senator GERALD CARDINALE
District 39 (Bergen and Passaic)
Senator NICHOLAS J. SACCO
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Assemblywoman HOLLY SCHEPISI
District 39 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman ROBERT AUTH
District 39 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman TIM EUSTACE
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman SCOTT T. RUMANA
District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Gordon and Sarlo
SYNOPSIS
Designates State Highway Route 17 in Borough of Ramsey as “Staff Sergeant Timothy R. McGill Memorial Highway.”
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act designating a portion of State Highway Route No. 17 as the “Staff Sergeant Timothy R. McGill Memorial Highway.”
Whereas, United States Army Staff Sergeant Timothy Raymond McGill was a long-time resident of Ramsey, New Jersey; and
Whereas, After graduating from Ramsey High School, Staff Sergeant McGill entered the United States Marine Corps in 2001 and was deployed with the 3rd Marine Division to Iraq in 2005; and
Whereas, After leaving the Marine Corps, Staff Sergeant McGill returned to New Jersey to serve as a volunteer firefighter for the Ramsey Volunteer Fire Department; and
Whereas, An honorable and courageous man who loved the military and his country, Staff Sergeant McGill joined the Rhode Island National Guard in 2008; and
Whereas, Staff Sergeant McGill was assigned to A company, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group of the Army National Guard of Middleton, Rhode Island; and
Whereas, While in the Army National Guard, Staff Sergeant McGill became a member of the Army Elite Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets, and was deployed to Afghanistan; and
Whereas, Serving as a weapons sergeant, Staff Sergeant McGill was required to complete many difficult missions, including interpreting and preparing combat orders and infiltrating enemy lines to recruit, train, and equip friendly forces for combat; and
Whereas, An expert in his field, Staff Sergeant McGill received numerous awards and decorations, including the Army Commendation Medal and the National Defense Service Medal; and
Whereas, On September 21, 2013, Staff Sergeant McGill tragically lost his life in Afghanistan while serving in and supporting Operation Enduring Freedom; and
Whereas, Staff Sergeant McGill was a dedicated soldier as well as a loving son and brother whose memory will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and fellow soldiers; and
Whereas, As a true example of heroism, patriotism, and service to his country and his fellow soldiers, it is fitting and proper for the Legislature of the State of New Jersey to honor the memory of Staff Sergeant Timothy R. McGill by designating the portion of State Highway Route No. 17 in the Borough of Ramsey, New Jersey as the “Staff Sergeant Timothy R. McGill 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 the portion of State Highway Route No. 17 extending from Milepost 22.56 to Milepost 24.35 in the Borough of Ramsey, New Jersey as the “Staff Sergeant Timothy R. McGill 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, education, 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 the portion of State Highway Route No. 17 in the Borough of Ramsey as the “Staff Sergeant Timothy R. McGill Memorial Highway.”
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Timothy Raymond McGill was a long-time resident of Ramsey, New Jersey. After graduating from Ramsey High School, Staff Sergeant McGill entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001 and was deployed to Iraq in 2005. After leaving the Marine Corps, Staff Sergeant McGill returned home to serve as a volunteer firefighter for the Ramsey Volunteer Fire Department. An honorable and courageous man who loved the military and his country, Staff Sergeant McGill joined the Rhode Island National Guard in 2008, where he was assigned to A company, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group.
While in the Army National Guard, Staff Sergeant McGill became a member of the Army Elite Special Forces and was deployed to Afghanistan. Serving as a weapons sergeant, Staff Sergeant McGill was required to complete many difficult missions and received numerous awards and decorations, including the Army Commendation Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
On September 21, 2013, Staff Sergeant McGill tragically lost his life in Afghanistan while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. Staff Sergeant McGill was a dedicated soldier as well as a loving son and brother whose memory will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and fellow soldiers. Staff Sergeant McGill’s heroism, patriotism, and service to his country make it fitting and proper for the State of New Jersey to honor his memory by designating the portion of State Highway Route No. 17 in the Borough of Ramsey, New Jersey as the “Staff Sergeant Timothy R. McGill Memorial Highway.”
The bill provides that no State or other public funds may be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting the “Staff Sergeant Timothy R. McGill Memorial Highway” signs. The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to receive financial assistance from private sources.