Landmark Washington State bridge could be renamed very soon

Washington – To commemorate the state’s most courageous, the Washington State Legislature has approved a joint memorial plea to rename the Interstate 90 bridge spanning the Columbia River. Known colloquially as the Vantage Bridge, the landmark will soon carry the designation “Medal of Honor Bridge” in honor of Washington’s 34 Medal of Honor holders.

The measure is now moving to the Senate to receive further approval after passing the House with a unanimous 95-0 majority. Chosen for its symbolic relevance and accessibility, the bridge is at a strategic central position in the state and provides breathtaking views over the Columbia River.

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The prime sponsor of the measure, Rep. Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake), added a personal touch to the legislative process with a heartbreaking account of his contacts with Medal of Honor soldiers.

“At his memorial service, I met another veteran with a medal around his neck. As I asked him what the medal was, he took it off and handed it to me and said, ‘This is the Medal of Honor. This is not mine, it belongs to all of us,'” Dent said in support of the bill.

This poignant moment highlighted the great relevance of the Medal of Honor as a symbol of group bravery and sacrifice.

Renaming the bridge comes from a methodical process run by the Washington State Transportation Commission in charge of naming state transportation assets. The Commission will schedule a public meeting to include community people in the renaming project following legislative approval. This guarantees that the decision linking state pride with national heroism will be made by the public.

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The Washington State Department of Transportation will be responsible for creating and putting up new bridge signage once all required authorities accept the renaming. This modification intends not just to recognize the heroes but also to make their legacy a permanent component of the state’s scenery.

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Encapsulated in House Joint Memorial 4002, the project effectively passed the Senate Committee on Transportation on April 8. It is anticipated to go before the complete Senate in the next days, when it will probably continue to receive bipartisan support.

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This renaming campaign acts as a reminder of the bravery and commitment shown by these exceptional people and reflects an increasing recognition of the sacrifices made by Medal of Honor recipients. It guarantees that every passenger over the bridge will recall the bravery of individuals who went above and beyond the call of duty.