ACR 8, as introduced, Wood. SO1 United States Navy (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman Memorial Bridge.
This measure would designate a specified bridge located on the Highway 101 Willits Bypass in the County of Mendocino as the SO1 United States Navy (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman Memorial Bridge. The measure would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost for appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.
Fiscal committee: yes.
P1 1WHEREAS, Jesse D. Pittman was born in Arcata, California
2and raised in the town of Willits, California. After graduating from
3Willits High School in 2002, Jesse spent two seasons as a wildland
4firefighter with CAL-FIRE before he joined the United States Navy
5in 2005 to become a SEAL commando. Jesse was as renowned
6for his practical jokes as he was for his bravery and discipline. As
7a Navy SEAL, Jesse went on missions both dangerous and top
8secret; and
9WHEREAS, Jesse, who spent most of his life in the town of
10Willits in the County of Mendocino, died August 6, 2011, in
P2 1Taliban territory when the Chinook helicopter that carried him and
230 other American troops was shot down. It was the deadliest
3incident for United States Armed Forces since the war in
4Afghanistan began a decade ago. He was 27 years of age when he
5died, a Navy petty officer first class and a member of the San
6Diego-based SEAL Team 5, where he was affectionately known
7as “Pitt”; and
8WHEREAS, Wise beyond his years, Jesse did the things he
9loved the best and chose careers that demanded skill and physical
10excellence. Jesse had a saying among his Navy SEAL teammates,
11“I don’t run, I charge,” which is exactly how he lived his life. He
12embodied the Navy SEAL creed that SEALs are common men
13with an uncommon desire to succeed; and
14WHEREAS, Jesse was highly decorated by the United States
15Navy. He received all of the following awards: the Joint Service
16Commendation Medal with “V” device for valor, the Navy
17Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal (2), the
18Combat Action Ribbon, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the
19Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,
20the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service
21Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Rifle
22Marksmanship Medal, the Pistol Marksmanship Medal, the Purple
23Heart, and the Bronze Star with Valor; and
24WHEREAS, Jesse was laid to rest on August 30, 2011, at Fort
25Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. He is
26survived by his parents, J. Pittman, Sr. and Ida Pittman, and his
27brothers, J. Pittman, Jr. and Corey Pittman; and
28WHEREAS, Designating Bridge No. 01-0165, the mile-long
29viaduct still under construction, on the Highway 101 Willits Bypass
30project in the County of Mendocino as the SO1 (SEAL) Jesse D.
31Pittman Memorial Bridge would be an appropriate honor for a
32local American hero; now, therefore, be it
33Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
34thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates Bridge
35No. 01-0165 located on the Highway 101 Willits Bypass in the
36County of Mendocino as the SO1 United States Navy (SEAL)
37Jesse D. Pittman Memorial Bridge; and be it further
38Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested
39to determine the cost of erecting appropriate signs, consistent with
40the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing
P3 1this special designation and, upon receiving donations from
2nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs; and be it
3further
4Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
5of this resolution to the Department of Transportation and to the
6author for appropriate distribution.
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