2017 -- S 0680

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LC002076

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION TO INSTALL A PLAQUE MEMORIALIZING THE ANDREWS

BROTHERS ON EXIT 6 ON I-195E

     Introduced By: Senators DaPonte, Conley, and Coyne

     Date Introduced: March 29, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     WHEREAS, In the late 1950s, many houses, an old convent, and three schools along

School Street, Oakley St., and Freeborn Avenue, from the Washington Bridge to the

Massachusetts State line, were razed to dig out Interstate 195; and

     WHEREAS, On November 11, 1961, this route was named the "East Providence

Veterans' Memorial Expressway". Each of the five bridges connecting the newly divided city was

named in honor of two local veterans; and

     WHEREAS, On I-195E, the Broadway exit ramp proceeds to Broadway at the foot of the

Freeborn Avenue hill; and

     WHEREAS, Before I-195 was built, this exit location was 944 Broadway, which was the

site of the backyard and home of the Andrews family; and

     WHEREAS, Joseph and Maria Andrews had built their home during the late 1920s and

had raised their five sons and two daughters there; and

     WHEREAS, Four of Joseph and Maria Andrews sons served our country with honor at

different times and in different countries during World War II. James Andrews served in

Germany; Albert Andrews received two Purple Hearts for his service in Belgium; George

Andrews re-enlisted and became a Major; and Joseph, Jr., who had begged his mother to sign his

papers because he was too young to serve, was assigned to the Construction Battalion (Seabees).

Upon leaving the service, they all returned home to East Providence; and

     WHEREAS, The heroism of the World War II generation embodies the personification of

what makes our country so glorious and these four brave and honorable men are eminently

worthy of our recognition; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation

hereby respectfully requests the Director of the Department of Transportation to construct and

install a plaque, similar in appearance to the signs placed at the five bridges on I-195, at the ramp

of Exit 6 on I-195E, also known as the Warren Avenue/Broadway/Pawtucket Avenue exit,

memorializing the Andrews Brothers in recognition of their service and sacrifice to this nation

during World War II; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Director of the Department of

Transportation.

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LC002076

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