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BILL NUMBER:S7631

TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the highway law, in relation to the designation of a portion of the state highway system

PURPOSE: To designate auxiliary interstate highway 781 as the "Paul Cerjan Memorial Highway."

SUMMARY: Section 1 amends the highway law by adding a new section, 342-ccc in order that auxiliary interstate highway 781 be designated as the "Paul Cerjan Memorial Highway."

Section 2 provides the enacting clause.

JUSTIFICATION: This legislation would celebrate the late US Army Lieutenant General Paul G. Cerjan's contribution to the Nation, New York, the North Country and Fort Drum.

Born in Rome, New York and a graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, Paul Cerjan served our Nation for 34 distinguished years rising to the rank of Lieutenant General. He had many important assignments in peace and war. He left his mark on them all but none as permanently as Fort Drum, New York, home of the 10th Mountain Division, the Army's most deployed division.

As the Assistant Division Commander for Support of the 10th Mountain Division (1985 1988), he was responsible for the planning, programming and the execution of a $1.2 Billion construction project which transformed Fort Drum from a small reserve training center to a world class power projection platform. His vision, knowledge of the Department of Defense military construction process and understanding of the Corps of Engineers policies and procedures enabled the General to bring the project to completion on time, to standard and under budget. He, more than anyone involved during that time, laid the foundation for the Fort Drum we know today.

After retirement in 1994 he continued to contribute to our Nation, New York, the North Country and Fort Drum in the defense and educational communities. As CEO of several organizations in direct support of Soldiers in combat, he spent several years in the combat theaters of Iraq and Kuwait. He also served as President of three Universities, helping to shape the minds and values of America's future leaders.

Lieutenant General Cerjan's love of the North Country and the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division strengthened over the years. He remained actively involved with the National Association of the 10th

Mountain Division and was the co-chair of the 10th Mountain Division Scholarship Fund.

On June 5, 2012, the Jefferson Country Board of Legislators unanimously approved a resolution expressing support for the naming of the Interstate Highway 81 Fort Drum Connector as the "Paul Cerjan Memorial Highway".

Naming the Interstate Highway 81 Fort Drum Connector as the "Paul Cerjan Memorial Highway" would be a fitting tribute to his many contributions to our Nation, New York, the North Country and Fort Drum. When completed, this highway will provide a safer, faster and environmentally greener passage from the main North-South route of travel to the home of the 10th Mountain Division for the Soldiers, their family members and others going to or from Fort Drum. It will also enhance the rapid deployment capability of America's only East Coast Light Infantry Division. Thus, the "Paul Cerjan Memorial Highway" would be symbolic of what Paul Cerjan's life, in and out of uniform, was all about.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None. Current project costs will cover the signage.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.

Text

STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________

7631

IN SENATE

June 8, 2012
___________

Introduced  by  Sens. RITCHIE, GRIFFO -- read twice and ordered printed,
  and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation

AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to  the  designation  of  a
  portion of the state highway system

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The highway law is amended by adding a new section  342-ccc
to read as follows:
  S 342-CCC. PORTION OF THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM TO BE DESIGNATED AS THE
"PAUL  CERJAN  MEMORIAL  HIGHWAY". ALL THAT PORTION OF THE STATE HIGHWAY
SYSTEM CONSTITUTING AUXILIARY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 781 LOCATED IN  JEFFER-
SON COUNTY, ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE FORT DRUM CONNECTOR, SHALL BE DESIG-
NATED AND KNOWN AS THE "PAUL CERJAN MEMORIAL HIGHWAY".
  S  2. The commissioner of transportation shall provide for the instal-
lation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state  highway  system
as designated pursuant to section one of this act.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD16179-01-2