BILL NUMBER: S9878A
SPONSOR: BASKIN
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to dedicating a portion of
the state highway system to PFC Travis C. Krege
 
PURPOSE:
To dedicate a portion of the state highway system to PFC Travis C.
Krege.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section I: Amends the highway law by adding a new section 344-s which
states that all the portion of the state highway system from the bridge
on Cleveland Drive crossing interstate 90 in Cheektowaga, NY, Erie Coun-
ty, shall be dedicated to PFC Travis C. Krege.
Section II: Directs the Commissioner of Transportation to provide for
the installation and maintenance of adequate signage. The signing shall
state "Bridge dedicated to PFC Travis C. Krege".
Section III: Sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Army PFC Travis C. Krege was a Cheektowaga native who was tragically
killed in the line of duty on December 6th, 2006, while serving during
Operation Iraqi Freedom. Krege and four other soldiers were killed when
an improvised explosive device destroyed their military vehicle in Hawi-
jah, near the Iraqi city of Kirkuk. Travis was just 24 years old at the
time of his death.
Travis graduated from Maryvale High School in 2000. He was known as
easy-going and enjoyed eating chicken wings, reading history books,
playing basketball and watching the Buffalo Sabres. Travis came from a
military family, his father, Michael, was a medic in Vietnam and knew
better than most what soldiers endured in the field. With that in mind,
Travis enlisted in the Aiiny and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th
Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based in Schofield
Barracks, Hawaii. He was deployed to Iraq and fought bravely. Due to his
actions in service of the nation, Krege was awarded a Bronze Star,
Purple Heart and other military decorations and buried at Mount Calvary
Cemetery in Cheektowaga, with military honors.
It is in remembrance of this American hero's sacrifice in conjunction
with honoring the family he left behind that has led to this bill to be
introduced. Dedicating the bridge on Cleveland Drive in Cheektowaga is a
way to acknowledge Travis' indelible mark on his hometown for defending
this country's freedom.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal to the State.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.