Amended in Assembly February 19, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 8

Introduced by Assembly Member Wood

January 15, 2015

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 8—Relative to the begin delete SO1 United States Navy (SEAL) end delete Jesse D. Pittman begin insert SO1 Navy SEAL end insert Memorial Bridge.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 8, as amended, Wood. begin delete SO1 United States Navy (SEAL) end delete Jesse D. Pittman begin insert SO1 Navy SEAL end insert Memorial Bridge.

This measure would designate a specified bridge located on the Highway 101 Willits Bypass in the County of Mendocino as the begin delete SO1 United States Navy (SEAL) end delete Jesse D. Pittman begin insert SO1 Navy SEAL end insert 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.

WHEREAS, Jesse D. Pittman was born in Arcata, California
and raised in the town of Willits, California. After graduating from
Willits High School in 2002, Jesse spent two seasons as a wild
land firefighter with CAL-FIRE before he joined the United States
Navy in 2005 to become a SEAL commando. Jesse was as
renowned for his practical jokes as he was for his bravery and
discipline. As a Navy SEAL, Jesse went on missions both
dangerous and top secret; and

WHEREAS, Jesse, who spent most of his life in the town of
Willits in the County of Mendocino, died August 6, 2011, in
Taliban territory when the Chinook helicopter that carried him and
30 other American troops was shot down. It was the deadliest
incident for United States Armed Forces since the war in
Afghanistan began a decade ago. He was 27 years of age when he
died, a Navy petty officer first class and a member of the San
Diego-based SEAL Team 5, where he was affectionately known
as “Pitt”; and

WHEREAS, Wise beyond his years, Jesse did the things he
loved the best and chose careers that demanded skill and physical
excellence. Jesse had a saying among his Navy SEAL teammates,
“I don’t run, I charge,” which is exactly how he lived his life. He
embodied the Navy SEAL creed that SEALs are common men
with an uncommon desire to succeed; and

WHEREAS, Jesse was highly decorated by the United States
Navy. He received all of the following awards: the Joint Service
Commendation Medal with “V” device for valor, the Navy
Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal (2), the
Combat Action Ribbon, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the
Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,
the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service
Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Rifle
Marksmanship Medal, the Pistol Marksmanship Medal, the Purple
Heart, and the Bronze Star with Valor; and

WHEREAS, Jesse was laid to rest on August 30, 2011, at Fort
Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. He is
survived by his parents, J. Pittman, Sr. and Ida Pittman, and his
brothers, J. Pittman, Jr. and Corey Pittman; and

WHEREAS, Designating Bridge No. 01-0165, the mile-long
viaduct still under construction, on the Highway 101 Willits Bypass
project in the County of Mendocino as the begin delete SO1 (SEAL) end delete Jesse D.
Pittman begin insert SO1 Navy SEAL end insert Memorial Bridge would be an appropriate
honor for a local American hero; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates Bridge
No. 01-0165 located on the Highway 101 Willits Bypass in the
County of Mendocino as the begin delete SO1 United States Navy (SEAL) end delete
Jesse D. Pittman begin insert SO1 Navy SEAL end insert Memorial Bridge; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested
to determine the cost of erecting appropriate signs, consistent with
the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing
this special designation and, upon receiving donations from
nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the begin delete Department end delete begin insert Director end insert of Transportation
and to the author for appropriate distribution.