Bill Text: CA ACR37 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Assembly Concurrent Resolution 37 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Marine Corporal Erik H. Silva Memorial Bridge.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-07-23 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 121, Statutes of 2019. [ACR37 Detail]

Download: California-2019-ACR37-Chaptered.html

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 37

CHAPTER 121

Relative to the Marine Corporal Erik H. Silva Memorial Bridge.

[ Filed with Secretary of State July 23, 2019. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

ACR 37, Eduardo Garcia. Marine Corporal Erik H. Silva Memorial Bridge.

This measure would designate the Alamo River Bridge on the Evan Hewes Highway (State Route 115) at the entry to the City of Holtville, California, as the Marine Corporal Erik H. Silva Memorial Bridge. The measure would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost for appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.

Fiscal Committee: YES

WHEREAS, Marine Corporal Erik H. Silva, 22 years of age, who died when his platoon was ambushed on April 3, 2003, was born on September 10, 1980, in Brawley, California, and grew up in the City of Holtville, California, an agricultural town located in California’s Imperial Valley where he graduated from Holtville High School in 1998; and

WHEREAS, Erik was known as a quiet, friendly, well-liked kid who played the trumpet in the band, and was a member of the varsity golf team, a soccer player, and a drum major his last two years of high school; and

WHEREAS, Marine Corporal Silva, an infantry rifleman, died in combat when his platoon was ambushed in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom; Marine Corporal Silva was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California; and

WHEREAS, The last time Erik visited his hometown, the 22-year-old Marine attended the town’s annual carrot festival and got a special blessing from his 72-year old grandmother, Rebeca Silva, who kissed him and said a prayer with him; and

WHEREAS, Erik was the youngest of four children and was the third sibling to serve in the United States Armed Forces with his older brother Isaac Silva serving a total of 12 years in the United States Air Force and the California Army National Guard while his older sister Gloria Silva served 10 years in the United States Navy; and

WHEREAS, Erik also had numerous uncles and aunts who have served honorably in the United States Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, Erik’s greatest accomplishments are numerous and include leading the Holtville Viking Band of Pride as the drum major; outside of high school, Erik was involved in his church youth group, was an altar server, and when he wasn’t playing baseball, you could see him coaching with his best friends during little league; and

WHEREAS, Erik’s love for baseball went beyond coaching on the field–one day Erik came to see his nephew Ocean playing in a little league game when he noticed that there was a child that did not have a glove or cleats. The next week, when Erik came to visit from Camp Pendleton, California, he had a new pair of cleats and a brand new glove for that child; and

WHEREAS, Erik was loved and is missed by all in the community of the City of Holtville. There is not a day that goes by that his name is not mentioned by someone who lives there; his best friends still reside in the City of Holtville and they keep Erik’s memory alive; and

WHEREAS, Erik is survived by his parents, his two older brothers, and an older sister; and

WHEREAS, Marine Corporal Erik H. Silva was just 22 years old and nearly six months short of completing his first enlistment before being honorably discharged to then seek a career with the Department of the California Highway Patrol; his love for God, family, country, and the United States Marine Corps was small in comparison as to who Erik was as a person; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the Alamo River Bridge on the Evan Hewes Highway (State Route 115) at the entry to the City of Holtville, California, as the Marine Corporal Erik H. Silva Memorial Bridge; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to determine the cost of erecting appropriate signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author for appropriate distribution.