BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SCR 38
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Date of Hearing: June 22, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Jim Frazier, Chair
SCR
38 (Roth) - As Amended May 6, 2015
SENATE VOTE: 38-0
SUBJECT: Memorial highways.
SUMMARY: Designates a portion of State Route (SR) 91 in the
County of Riverside as the "Staff Sergeant Salvador J. Lara,
Staff Sergeant Ysmael R. Villegas, and Sergeant Jesus S. Duran
Memorial Highway." Specifically, this resolution:
1)Describes the life and accomplishments of Staff Sergeants
Salvador J. Lara and Ysmael R. Villegas and Sergeant Jesus S.
Duran.
2)Designates SR 91 from Madison Street to Third Street in the
County of Riverside as the Staff "Sergeant Salvador J. Lara,
Staff Sergeant Ysmael R. Villegas, and Sergeant Jesus S. Duran
Memorial Highway."
3)Requests that the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) determine the cost of the appropriate signs,
consistent with the signing requirements for a state highway
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system, showing special designation and, upon receiving
donations from non-state sources covering that cost, to erect
those signs.
EXISTING LAW: Assigns Caltrans the responsibility of operating
and maintaining state highways including the installation and
maintenance of highway signs.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, but the measure requests that Caltrans
only erect the appropriate signage upon receiving donations from
non-state sources covering the cost.
COMMENTS: Staff Sergeant Salvador J. Lara was born in
Riverside, California in 1920 and died on September 1, 1945.
He is buried at Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in
Saint-Avold, Moselle, France. Staff Sergeant Lara was one of 24
veterans awarded the Medal of Honor through the National Defense
Authorization Act which called for a review of Jewish American
and Hispanic American veterans from World War II, the Korean
War, and the Vietnam War to ensure that veterans deserving the
Medal of Honor were not subject to prejudice.
It was determined that then-Private First Class Salvador J. Lara
distinguished himself by acts of gallantry for his valorous
actions in Aprilla, Italy, during fight on May 27, 1944, when he
aggressively led his rifle squad in neutralizing multiple enemy
strong points and inflicting large numbers of casualties on the
enemy. The next morning, when his company resumed the attack,
Private First Class Lara sustained a severe leg would but
continued his mission without stopping to receive first aid.
Private First Class Lara went on to achieve the rank of Staff
Sergeant and was awarded numerous medals and awards for his
accomplishments including the Medal of Honor from President
Obama during a ceremony held on March 18, 2014.
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Staff Sergeant Ysmael R. Villegas was born on March 21, 1924,
and raised in Riverside, California. Staff Sergeant Villegas,
led his squad at Villa Verde Trail in Luzon in the Philippines
through a determined attack on March 20, 1945, during which
Staff Sergeant Villegas was mortally wounded. The Veterans of
Foreign Wars named Post 184 in Riverside, California, in his
honor, a statute was dedicated to his honor on Main Street Civic
Center Courtyard in the City of Riverside and the Ysmael R.
Villegas Middle School in Riverside was named in his honor.
Sergeant Duran was also one of 24 veteran who was awarded the
Medal of Honor through the National Defense Authorization Act
and Sergeant Durnan's daughter, Tina Duran-Ruvalcaba, accepted
the Medal of Honor on his behalf from President Obama on March
2014.
Sergeant Jesus S. Duran was born on July 26, 1948, in Juarez,
Mexico. He joined the United States Army on May 13, 1968, to
support search and destroy missions. Sergeant Duran
distinguished himself during combat operations against armed
enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on April 10, 1969. Sergeant
Duran received numerous other medals for his service and
heroism. Upon leaving the military, Sergeant Duran pursued a
career as a corrections officer at a juvenile detention center
in the City of San Bernardino, California, where he dedicated
many hours to mentor youth. Sergeant Duran passed away on
February 17, 1977.
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This resolution, designating the portion of SR 91 from Madison
Street to Third Street in the County of Riverside as "Staff
Sergeant Salvador J. Lara, Staff Sergeant Ysmael R. Villegas,
and Sergeant Jesus S. Duran Memorial Highway" serves to honor
these individuals.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
American Legion, Department of California
AMVETS, Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Casa Blanca Community Action Group
Military Officers Association of America, California Council of
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Chapters
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 134
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916)
319-2093