BILL NUMBER: S7699
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to designating a portion of
the state highway system as the "Jack Barletta Memorial Highway"
 
PURPOSE:
To honor the life and legacy of Jack Barletta by designating a portion
of state route 208 in Orange County as the "Jack Barletta Memorial High-
way."
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends the highway law by designating the portion of state
route 208 between Schipps Lane and Otter Road in Orange County as the "
Jack Barletta Memorial Highway."
Section 2: Directs the commissioner of transportation to install and
maintain signage indicating the ceremonial designation, while ensuring
that the official name of the highway remains unchanged to prevent
confusion or disruption of commerce.
Section 3: Provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Jack Barletta was an Orange County native and lifelong resident. He left
home at 19 shortly before Thanksgiving 1942 to join the military. On
September 9th, 1943, he led a recon force in Salerno, Italy, collecting
information before the invasion that followed. He continued to fight in
Italy until he was wounded on November 15th. Three months later, he was
back with his unit outside of Rome, which they captured. After Rome,
they went to Monte Carlo in southern France, then moved to eastern
France, where Jack, while carrying a wounded soldier on his shoulders,
stepped on a landmine. He recovered in England, then Virginia, before
being discharged in August 1945. He was awarded two Purple Hearts, a
bronze star, a North African Campaign medal, a European Theater Campaign
medal, a good conduct medal, a NYS World War II medal, an infantry
badge, and a certificate and medal from the French Government in appre-
ciation for his service.
In 1970, Jack Barletta was the Commander of the Maybrook VFW, however,
they did not have a meeting hall. After a gracious land donation, Jack
and his Vice Commander Karl Heller used their homes as collateral to
secure a loan to build the VFW hall. After two years and much community
support, the building was finished, where it still stands today. Accord-
ing to Maybrook Mayor Dennis Leahy and many other local leaders with
whom he worked, Jack Barletta became a well-known community member for
many years, providing leadership and support to countless local families
and organizations.
In the twilight of his life, Jack Barletta experienced a day of honor
that he and his family would never forget, with the Hudson Valley Honor
Flight, taking a trip to Washington, DC to visit the World War II memo-
rial. On this day, Jack Barletta received well-deserved recognition for
his service to our nation from thousands of Americans throughout the
entire country.
Renaming this portion of State Route 208 in his honor is a fitting trib-
ute to his memory and the positive influence he had on the region. It
will serve as a lasting reminder of his legacy and the values he
embodied.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal cost to the state for the installation and maintenance of
signage.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately