Bridge named after former Churchville resident

Bridge named after former Churchville resident

Senator Jim Alesi (R-Perinton) and Assemblymember Susan John (D-Rochester, Chili, Riga, Rush, Wheatland) sponsored legislation that would name the bridge over Scottsville-Chili Road (State Route 386) after Private First Class James E. Widener, a Churchville resident, who upon graduation from high school, joined the United States Marine Corps and served in Vietnam.

Forty years ago, June 11, 1967, PFC Widener was declared Missing in Action when his helicopter crashed while on a mission to the Quang Tri Province in South Vietnam. On November 2, 2006, the United States Department of Defense announced Widener's remains had been positively identified and he was given a proper military burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

"There is no greater satisfaction in my job as a legislator than when I get to honor a man or woman who has served in the military," said Alesi. "Private First Class Widener was a lifelong resident of Churchville who chose to serve his country at a time when we needed him most. He made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting in the Vietnam War and it was only seven months ago that his family was finally able to have closure and bury their son. It is a fitting tribute that we honor his memory in the community that he loved by naming this bridge after him so for generations to come, residents will remember the sacrifice their hometown son made for their freedom." John said, "Our community owes a debt of gratitude to the Widener family, and this legislation is one small payment toward that debt. I want to thank Roger Pimm who brought the idea for naming the bridge after PFC Widener to me and the Churchville-Chili Central School District for creating a memorial garden in Jim's honor. I hope that as people drive over this section of Scottsville-Chili Road they will remember Mr. Widener as a boy swimming and paddling in Black Creek and as a young man who gave all he had for our liberty."

The bridge crosses over Black Creek and will be designated the "James E. Widener Memorial Bridge." After the bill passes the assembly, it will be sent to the governor for his signature.