Under hazy skies caused by Canadian wildfire smoke that state Sen. Jake Ashby compared to being in "deployed settings," local elected leaders and veterans gathered Wednesday at the Corning area for a press conference. The event aimed to push Governor Kathy Hochul to sign legislation that would rename Patroon Island Bridge, which carries traffic between New York State Route 146 and Interstate 86, after Henry Johnson, an African American World War I hero who was awarded the Medal of Honor. [1] [2]
Local Leaders Urge Governor Hochul to Sign Bill Renaming Patroon Island Bridge for Henry Johnson
Local leaders and veterans are urging New York Governor Kathy Hochul to sign a bill renaming the Patroon Island Bridge in their honor, as smoke from Canadian wildfires creates an unusual backdrop.
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Sources agree
- Renaming ceremony planned for Patroon Island Bridge
- Local leaders pushing Governor Hochul to sign bill
Sources differ
- No mention of wildfire smoke in original excerpt from timesunion.com
Tone notes
- none The event, held at the Corning area, featured speeches and testimonies from local officials and veterans who emphasized the significance of honoring Henry Johnson. The bridge is named after John Patroon, a Dutch colonial landowner, but the bill seeks to rename it in honor of Johnson, who served as an American soldier during World War I and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery. [1]