The Brownsville Road bridge crossing the Neshaminy Creek has been officially renamed to honor U.S. Army Private First Class George Raymond Huntzinger, a fallen soldier from the Vietnam War.
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The bridge, which connects Middletown and Lower Southampton townships, was rededicated last Friday in a ceremony attended by veterans, community leaders, and Huntzinger’s family.
The renaming effort was spearheaded by the Pennsylvania Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which is led by Hulmeville Borough resident Ed Preston, who praised the community’s commitment to remembering their local heroes.
“They’re not forgotten,” Preston said of Huntzinger and other fallen fighters. “As long as we’re alive, they are not forgotten.”
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Huntzinger lost his life on October 29, 1969 while dismantling a land mine in Quang Ngai province, Vietnam.
He was remembered fondly by friends and family.
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Fran Drummond, a longtime friend, reminisced about their teenage years driving over the bridge in Huntzinger’s yellow 1968 Buick Cutlass 442. They often were listening to the sounds of Motown music on the car’s 8-Track player.
“I can’t tell you how many times we crossed this bridge in our cars. Maybe going a little too fast. Maybe having a little too many … who knows?” he said with a chuckle.
Ryan Skoczylas, chief of staff for Republican State Sen. Frank Farry, emphasized the significance of the bridge’s new name.
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“This will serve as a reminder to our community that Private First Class Huntzinger is the best of us,” he said.
During the ceremony, Republican State Rep. Joe Hogan and Skoczylas presented a copy of the new sign to the Huntzinger family.
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Anna Payne, the Democratic candidate for state representative and a Middletown Township supervisor, spoke about the importance of keeping Huntzinger’s legacy alive.
“Now and forever, Private First Class Huntzinger will be remembered and his name recited forever,” said Payne, who shared she lost her cousin in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005.
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Huntzinger is buried in Our Lady of Grace Cemetery in Middletown Township.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The bridge renaming is part of a larger program by the Pennsylvania Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to dedicate area bridges in honor of Bucks County servicemen and women who died in the Vietnam War.
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