BILL NUMBER: S8440

SPONSOR: FAHY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the highway law, in relation to dedicating a portion of
the state highway system to Sgt Henry Johnson

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To honor the bravery and legacy of Sgt. Henry Johnson, World War I hero
who lived in Albany, NY.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends the highway law to add a new section 345-d to rename
the Patroon Island Bridge after Sgt. Henry Johnson.

Section 2: This act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:
              

Sgt. Henry Johnson, an infantryman from Albany, first enlisted in 1917
with the segregated, all-black 15th New York National Guard Regiment,
ultimately becoming the 369th U.S. Infantry Regiment, aka the 'Harlem
Hellfighters'.

While on duty in the Argonne Forest in May 1918, Sgt. Johnson and a
fellow soldier came under attack by a German raiding party of at least a
dozen men. Despite being outnumbered, Johnson fought until his rifle ran
out of ammunition, then using it as a club before resorting to a bolo
knife in hand-to-hand combat. During the encounter, Johnson suffered 21
wounds and not only managed to prevent his wounded comrades from being
captured and killed but also prevented the German forces from reaching
the French line, saving countless other lives.

For decades, efforts by historians, Black veterans, and New York lawmak-
ers sought to ensure that Johnson's extraordinary bravery was properly
acknowledged; recognition long denied due to racial discrimination. It
wasn't until 1996 that he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for
the severe injuries he sustained in combat. In 2002, he received the
Distinguished Service Cross, and in 2015, after nearly a century of
advocacy, Johnson was finally honored with the Medal of Honor, the
nation's highest military award.

In 2023 Fort Polk was renamed to Fort Johnson in honor of Sgt. Johnson
pursuant to a recommendation made by the Bipartisan Naming Commission
that was created by a law enacted by Congress. In June 2025, the name of
Fort Johnson was reverted to Fort Polk at the direction of the federal
Executive administration. Recognizing the contributions of Sgt. Henry
Johnson to this country, this bridge renaming is a worthy tribute to a
national hero.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.