Route 35 will be named for PFC Justin Dreese

The memory and sacrifice of Private First Class Justin W. Dreese will live on as legislation has been signed into law, which names State Route 35 from Selinsgrove to the Snyder County line near Richfield in his honor, said Rep. Russ Fairchild (R-Snyder/Union), author of the law.

“Private Dreese gave his life so that democracy could flourish throughout the world,” said Fairchild. “Naming Route 35 in Dreese’s memory is one way that we can show our appreciation for his sacrifice and to demonstrate to his family that their son will never be far from our hearts and minds. His parents, Wesley Dreese and Kathryn Shaffer, raised a remarkable son, and we as a nation and a community share their loss.”

House Bill 1783 officially designates this section of roadway as the Justin W. Dreese Memorial Highway.

Dreese, who completed tours of duty in Afghanistan and El Salvador prior to his service in Iraq, died as a result of injuries suffered during a mortar attack in Iraq. An accomplished paratrooper from Freeburg and a 2004 graduate of Selinsgrove Area High School, Dreese had arrived in Iraq just three weeks before the attack on Sept. 2, 2006. He was 21.

“We at the VFW are pleased that Representative Fairchild had this done at our request, and we feel it is a great honor to have the highway named for PFC Justin Dreese,” said Harold W. Aucker, quartermaster for the Selinsgrove Post No. 6631 of the VFW. “We would also like to thank Representative Fairchild for getting this bill through.”

During Dreese’s military career, he was a member of the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. He achieved the mark of 22 jumps from various aircraft, including helicopters in El Salvador. He was deployed in 2005 to Afghanistan, in early 2006 to El Salvador, and in July 2006, to Iraq.

“I would like to thank Senator John Gordner and Representative Merle Phillips for their efforts in securing passage of this legislation through the House and Senate,” Fairchild said. “It was our goal that this legislation move swiftly through the process. Senator Gordner accomplished that for us in his chamber, and Representative Phillips, as a leading co-sponsor of the bill, helped guide our efforts here in the House so that this could be enacted into law before Memorial Day.”

Now that House Bill 1783 has been signed into law, PennDOT will place and maintain signs displaying the designation of this section of highway as the Justin W. Dreese Memorial Highway.

Rep. Russ Fairchild
85th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(570) 524-2788
(717) 787-3443

Contact:  Jennifer Algoe Keaton

jkeaton@pahousegop.com

(717) 705-2094

Member site:  RussFairchild.com

Caucus site: PAHouseGOP.com