Dedicates a portion of the state highway system to Sgt Henry Johnson

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic10
• Republican4

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Patricia Fahy says this is needed

Sgt. Henry Johnson, an infantryman from Albany, first enlisted in 1917 with the segregated, all-black 15th New York National Guard Regiment, ultimately becoming the 369th U.S. Infantry Regiment, aka the 'Harlem Hellfighters'. While on duty in the Argonne Forest in May 1918, Sgt. Johnson and a fellow soldier came under attack by a German raiding party of at least a dozen men. Despite being outnumbered, Johnson fought until his rifle ran out of ammunition, then using it as a club before resorting to a bolo knife in hand-to-hand combat. During the encounter, Johnson suffered 21 wounds and not only managed to prevent his wounded comrades from being captured and killed but also prevented the German forces from reaching the French line, saving countless other lives. For decades, efforts by historians, Black veterans, and New York lawmak- ers sought to ensure that Johnson's extraordinary bravery was properly acknowledged; recognition long denied due to racial discrimination. It wasn't until 1996 that he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for the severe injuries he sustained in combat. In 2002, he received the Distinguished Service Cross, and in 2015, after nearly a century of advocacy, Johnson was finally honored with the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award. In 2023 Fort Polk was renamed to Fort Johnson in honor of Sgt. Johnson pursuant to a recommendation made by the Bipartisan Naming Commission that was created by a law enacted by Congress. In June 2025, the name of Fort Johnson was reverted to Fort Polk at the direction of the federal Executive administration. Recognizing the contributions of Sgt. Henry Johnson to this country, this bridge renaming is a worthy tribute to a national hero.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.