BILL NUMBER: SCR 80 CHAPTERED BILL TEXT RESOLUTION CHAPTER 89 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE AUGUST 24, 2012 ADOPTED IN SENATE MAY 25, 2012 ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 20, 2012 INTRODUCED BY Senator Fuller MARCH 28, 2012 Relative to the Lance Corporal Joseph C. Lopez Memorial Interchange. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SCR 80, Fuller. Lance Corporal Joseph C. Lopez Memorial Interchange. This measure would designate the Rosamond Boulevard Interchange of State Highway Route 14 in the City of Rosamond as the Lance Corporal Joseph C. Lopez Memorial Interchange. This measure would also request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering those costs, to erect those signs. WHEREAS, Joseph C. Lopez enlisted in the Marine Corps in March 2009, and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton; and WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Lopez was a strong Marine, physically and mentally, who made a conscious decision to let his faith in God lead him through whatever might happen; and WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Lopez was a mentor to many younger Marines from his life experiences and helped his fellow Marine brothers simply by being a good listener; and WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Lopez was deployed to the Sangin district of the Helmand province of Afghanistan in late September 2010, with his unit; and WHEREAS, On October 14th, 2010, Lance Corporal Lopez had returned safely to his Marine camp, after successfully patrolling an area of responsibility for more than 20 hours on foot; and WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Lopez's team was then dispatched to a nearby location to assist a Marine unit taking heavy fire; and WHEREAS, The then 26-year-old Lance Corporal Lopez was killed by an improvised explosive device during that combat operation in Helmand province; and WHEREAS, In 2011, Lance Corporal Lopez's family and church established an inaugural annual five kilometer run in remembrance of him, in which members of his Marine unit participated, all proceeds of which are donated to the Wounded Warriors Project and church youth programs; and WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Lopez was a kid at heart with a soft spot for children who spoiled his nieces like they were his children; and WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Lopez is survived by his grandparents, John and Lorraine Elam and Mary Pratti; his parents, Tracy and Arthur Pratti, Sr.; his brothers, Arthur Pratti, Jr., Richard, Christopher, and Anthony Pratti; his nieces and nephew, Hailey, Jax, Arianna, and Alessandra Pratti; and members of his Marine unit; and WHEREAS, In recognition of Lance Corporal Lopez's service and sacrifice to our nation, it would be a fitting tribute to designate the Rosamond Boulevard Interchange of State Highway Route 14 in the City of Rosamond as the Lance Corporal Joseph C. Lopez Memorial Interchange; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the Rosamond Boulevard Interchange of State Highway Route 14 in the City of Rosamond as the Lance Corporal Joseph C. Lopez Memorial Interchange; and be it further Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to determine the cost of appropriate signs consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the Department of Transportation and to the author for appropriate distribution.