Bill Text: NJ A4165 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Designates Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge as "Master Sergeant Fred William Zabitosky Memorial Bridge."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-06-11 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [A4165 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-A4165-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY, No. 4165

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 11, 2018

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  REED GUSCIORA

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Designates Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge as "Master Sergeant Fred William Zabitosky Memorial Bridge."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

 


An Act designating the Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge, which carries U.S. Route 1 across the Delaware River between the City of Trenton, New Jersey and the Borough of Morrisville, Pennsylvania, as the "Master Sergeant Fred William Zabitosky Memorial Bridge."

 

Whereas, Fred William Zabitosky was born on October 27, 1942 in the City of Trenton, New Jersey; and

Whereas, Mr. Zabitosky joined the United States Army in 1959, served with the 5th Special Forces Group, and ultimately rose to and retired from the United States Army with the rank of Master Sergeant; and

Whereas, In addition to receiving the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, Master Sergeant Zabitosky was presented with the Medal of Honor in 1969 for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty"; and

Whereas, While serving as the assistant team leader of a nine-man Special Forces long-range reconnaissance patrol in North Vietnamese territory, Master Sergeant Zabitosky and his team were attacked by a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army unit; and

Whereas, Master Sergeant Zabitosky rallied his team members, deployed them into defensive positions, and, repeatedly exposing himself to concentrated enemy fire, and directed the team's return fire; and

Whereas, The team members were able to move to a landing zone for helicopter extraction while Master Sergeant Zabitosky covered their withdrawal with rifle fire and grenades and, after rejoining the team, coordinated a tight perimeter defense and controlled the defensive fire; and

Whereas, After boarding the helicopter, Master Sergeant Zabitosky positioned himself in the door of the helicopter to return fire on the enemy, ultimately being thrown from the helicopter as it spun out of control and crashed; and

Whereas, Master Sergeant Zabitosky recovered consciousness, moved to the flaming wreckage, attempted to save his team members from the wreckage, and was able to pull the severely wounded pilot from the flames; and

Whereas, After several unsuccessful attempts to rescue other team members, Master Sergeant Zabitosky, with serious burns and other injuries, carried the unconscious pilot through relentless enemy fire to a nearby hovering rescue helicopter, where he finally collapsed; and

Whereas, The State of New Jersey, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the United States of America owe a debt of gratitude and reverence to Master Sergeant Zabitosky, who is a shining example of true American heroism and the only person from Mercer County to receive the Medal of Honor; now, therefore,

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    The Executive Director of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission shall designate the Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge, which carries U.S. Route 1 across the Delaware River between the City of Trenton, New Jersey and the Borough of Morrisville, Pennsylvania, as the "Master Sergeant Fred William Zabitosky Memorial Bridge," and shall erect appropriate signs bearing this name.

 

     2.    To the extent that the consent of the Congress of the United States is required for the provisions of this act to go into effect, the Governor of New Jersey and the Governor of Pennsylvania are each authorized to apply for that consent.

 

     3.    This act shall take effect upon the enactment into law by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of legislation having an identical effect, but if the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall already have enacted such legislation, then this act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill directs the Executive Director of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission to designate the Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge, which carries U.S. Route 1 across the Delaware River between Trenton, New Jersey and Morrisville, Pennsylvania, as the "Master Sergeant Fred William Zabitosky Memorial Bridge," and to erect appropriate signs bearing this designation.

     The bill authorizes the Governor of New Jersey and the Governor of Pennsylvania to apply for congressional consent to the bridge naming, to the extent that such consent is required.  The bill will become effective only if both the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enact legislation designating the bridge as the "Master Sergeant Fred William Zabitosky Memorial Bridge."

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