Senate Bill S7066A

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S7066

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the highway law, in relation to
designating a portion of the state highway system as the "Col. David
Ireland Memorial Highway"

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

This bill provides that a section of New York State Route 434 in
Binghamton will be renamed the "Col. David Ireland Memorial Highway."

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section 1 of the bill adds a new section to the highway law to
designate the section of Route 434 from Pennsylvania Avenue to South
Washington Street.

Section 2 provides for the installation and maintenance of signage to
be undertaken by the New York State Department of Transportation.

Section 3 is the enacting clause.

 JUSTIFICATION :

On July 2, 1863 at Little Round Top in Gettysburg, Colonel Joshua
Chamberlain and the 20th Maine Infantry fought valiantly to hold the
              

Union line. Their exploits are well-known, even inspiring a famous
scene from the 1993 movie Gettysburg.

What many people aren't aware of is that night at Gettysburg, Colonel
David Ireland and the 137th NY Infantry experienced a similar assault
from Confederate troops at Culp's Hill. Under the cover of darkness
and despite suffering more than 130 casualties, the regiment preserved
the Union's hold on Culp's Hill, greatly contributing to victory in
the war's decisive battle. Even lesser known: before heading off to
battle, Colonel Ireland and the 137th NY trained on the south shores
of the Susquehanna River in Binghamton.

Unlike Colonel Chamberlain, who went on to serve as the Governor of
Maine and the President of Bowdoin College after his service to the
Union Army, taking his heroic story with him; Colonel Ireland died
from dysentery in 1864 before the end of the Civil War.

In the year before his death, the 137th NY went on to fight
courageously in several other battles, and as a result was
memorialized with monuments at Gettysburg and throughout the South.
However, one key place with no memorial to recognize their heroism is
their 'hometown' where they trained.

The designated section of highway is just west of the Camp Susquehanna
site, and is perpendicular to the South Washington Street Bridge;
where this bridge is currently located, a former covered bridge stood
and was used by the regiment as a point of access to the downtown
area. In addition to renaming a portion of Route 434, a historical
roadside marker will be installed near the site of Camp Susquehanna to
honor the heroic sacrifice of Colonel Ireland and his regiment.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New Bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.