Senate Transportation Committee advances three bills to name bridges for North Dakota veterans

The Senate Transportation Committee on an undisclosed date gave a due pass to three separate bills that would name bridges in North Dakota to honor local veterans.

Representative Karen Anderson, the sponsor who introduced two of the bills, said the measures ‘‘may seem trivial to some people, but . . . it is an honor to be able to sponsor’’ the designations and that family members and friends were supportive. Representative Anderson represents District 19 and identified herself at the hearing as being from Grafton.

The bills would designate (1) a bridge on State Highway 18 as the Specialist Richard W. Orson Vietnam Bridge (HB 1090); (2) a bridge on U.S. Highway 81 north of Grafton as the Specialist David Latrail Vietnam Bridge (HB 1091); and (3) the U.S. Highway 52 overpass near Carrington as the Staff Sergeant Miles Shelley World War II Overpass (HB 1092). Each bill includes a continuing appropriation and an emergency clause.

Why it matters: Sponsors and veterans groups said naming bridges helps ensure veteran service is publicly remembered and gives families a fixed local memorial. Committee testimony also clarified how the program is implemented and funded: community donors…