LAWS 2015 Chap. 123

CHAPTER 123 Whereas it is appropriate to designate as the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway AN ACT HB 2036 due to its proximity to the Oregon Korean War Me- morial in Wilsonville, which was created by the Relating to veterans memorial highways; and de- Korean War Memorial Foundation of Oregon and is claring an emergency. served by Interstate 5; and Whereas Oregon has honored its World War II Whereas designating Interstate 5 also as a Pur- and Vietnam War veterans with border to border ple Heart Trail will link the border to border Purple memorial highways on U.S. Highway 97 and Inter- Heart Trails on Interstate 5 in and state 84; and , creating the first National Purple Whereas Oregon has not similarly honored its Heart Trail in the United States connecting our na- veterans who served during World War I, the tion to its neighboring countries of Canada and Korean War or the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Mexico; and Iraq Wars; and Whereas the cities of Albany and Medford served Whereas many other states have designated ma- by Interstate 5 were designated as Purple Heart jor highways as memorial highways to honor veter- cities in 2014; and ans who served during these and other wars; and Whereas it is appropriate to designate U.S. Whereas 44,200 Oregonians served during World Highway 101 as the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and War I, with about 1,100 becoming war casualties; Iraq Veterans Memorial Highway due to its proxim- and ity to the American Veterans and Desert Storm Me- Whereas all of Oregon’s World War I veterans morial in Lincoln City designed and developed by have passed away; and Mark S. Hemstreet; and Whereas 60,000 Oregonians served during the Whereas designating U.S. Highway 101 as the Korean War, with 298 making the ultimate sacrifice Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans Memo- or being identified as Missing In Action; and rial Highway now as the war ends in Afghanistan, Whereas there are approximately 29,600 Korean rather than waiting decades as has been done for War veterans living in Oregon; and veterans of earlier wars, will honor Oregon’s young- Whereas recent statistics show that approxi- est combat veterans sooner; and mately 54,000 Oregonians have served during the Whereas Oregon’s Korean War, Persian Gulf Persian Gulf War and during the subsequent War, Afghanistan War, Iraq War and Purple Heart Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, collectively representing veterans will appreciate these new veterans memo- the longest war in America’s history, with 148 mak- rial highways as World War II and Vietnam War ing the ultimate sacrifice to date; and veterans have appreciated their memorial highways; Whereas there are approximately 74,500 Persian and Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans living in Whereas the existing names of U.S. Highway Oregon; and 395, U.S. Highway 101 and Interstate 5 and any Whereas at least 6,000 Oregon veterans from maps will not be changed by the honorary desig- World War I to the present became eligible for nations of these new veterans memorial highways; award of the Purple Heart, our nation’s oldest mili- and tary award; and Whereas Oregon’s veterans have offered to pay Whereas the missions of the congressionally the cost to create, install and maintain signs for chartered Oregon Department of the Korean War each of these three border to border veterans me- Veterans Association and Oregon Department of the morial highways; now, therefore, Military Order of the Purple Heart include honoring Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Or- the service and sacrifice of Korean War veterans egon: and all combat-wounded veterans; and Whereas no congressionally chartered veterans SECTION 1. (1) The portion of U.S. Highway organizations exist in Oregon to speak for World 395, crossing the State of Oregon, beginning at War I veterans and Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and the California state line and ending at the Iraq war veterans, and someone must speak for Washington state line, shall also be known as them; and the World War I Veterans Memorial Highway. Whereas the congressionally chartered American (2) The portion of Interstate 5, crossing the Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Departments State of Oregon, beginning at the California of Oregon honor war veterans; and state line and ending at the Washington state Whereas Oregon’s Blue Star Memorial Highways line, shall also be known as the Korean War on , , U.S. Veterans Memorial Highway, and as the Purple Highway 97, Interstate 5, Interstate 84, U.S. High- Heart Trail. way 101 and Interstate 205 honor the veterans who (3) The portion of U.S. Highway 101, crossing serve during war and peacetime; and the State of Oregon, beginning at the California Whereas designating U.S. Highway 395 as the state line and ending at the Washington state World War I Veterans Memorial Highway will honor line, shall also be known as the Persian Gulf, for posterity all those who served during World War Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans Memorial High- I; and way.

1 Chap. 123 OREGON LAWS 2015

(4) The Department of Transportation shall SECTION 2. This 2015 Act being necessary place and maintain suitable markers along each for the immediate preservation of the public highway described in this section to indicate the peace, health and safety, an emergency is de- designation of each highway. (5)(a) The department may accept moneys clared to exist, and this 2015 Act takes effect on from and may enter into agreements with vet- its passage. erans groups to create, install and maintain the Approved by the Governor May 21, 2015 markers. Filed in the office of Secretary of State May 22, 2015 (b) The department may not use public funds Effective date May 21, 2015 for the installation and maintenance of the markers.

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