York County News

State Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) held a ceremony today to dedicate a bridge in York County to Pvt. Edward J. Stambaugh, along with members of the Stambaugh family and other community leaders.

“While we can never fully thank Pvt. Stambaugh and his family for their service to our nation, we can honor Pvt. Stambaugh’s memory,” Grove said. “This small gesture will honor his life and legacy forever, while reminding us of the cost of our freedom isn’t free. I also want to extend my thanks to the Stambaugh family. Sharing your stories of loss is never easy, but it allows our community to offer this small gesture.”

The bridge carrying U.S. Route 30 over Paradise Creek between Paradise Township and Jackson Township, York County, will now be known as the Private Edward J. Stambaugh Memorial Bridge. Enlisted in the U.S. Army on Sept. 8, 1942, Stambaugh served the country with valor and honor as a member of M-Company, 116th Regiment during World War II. The M-Company landed and fought in the Normandy invasion on D-Day. Surviving the beach invasion, Stambaugh and his company continued west through the French countryside, securing towns for Allied troops.

On June 16, 1944, troops moved toward Saint Lo, France. Their advance was met with heavy enemy fire; according to reports from M-Company, Stambaugh was killed in action that day. He was buried on June 23, 1944 at La Cambe Cemetery located approximately 6.5 miles west of Omaha Beach.

On Jan. 20, 1948, Stambaugh’s remains were returned to the United States where he was laid to rest on Feb. 19 at Paradise Holtzschwamm Lutheran Church Cemetery in Thomasville, York County. He was awarded a Purple Heart medal posthumously.

The ceremony can be viewed in its entirety here: pagopvideo.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/123981093.mp4

Representative Seth Grove

196th District

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Media Contact: Charlie O’Neill

717-260-6121

coneill@pahousegop.com

RepGrove.com / Facebook.com/RepSethGrove