Worthington Man Hopes to Dedicate East Franklin Bridge
Harry Breski, of Worthington, appeals to East Franklin Township supervisors to send a letter of support to dedicate a local bridge in honor of his brother - a fallen Vietnam War helicopter pilot.
by Jonathan Weaver
A local man is one step closer to having his brother forever remembered as a decorated Vietnam War soldier.
Harry Breski, of Worthington, advocated for the support of East Franklin Township supervisors to dedicate a bridge in honor of his brother – U.S. Army First Lieutenant Joseph Breski, Jr.
Harry said he brainstormed the idea after seeing various other bridges and roadways dedicated to fallen soldiers.
“I’ve been interested in the last year or so to dedicate a bridge after my brother who was killed in Vietnam,” Harry said. “After speaking with Senator White’s office, and with a particular bridge in mind, he said I needed to get the support of the municipality and also a local VFW or American Legion.”
Joseph, a helicopter pilot, was killed in action June 6, 1969 while flying over South Vietnam with the First Air Calvary Division. The West Kittanning native was 21 years old.
“I’ve wanted to do something special for (Joseph). This is still pretty painful for me,” Harry said. “I don’t want people to forget him.”
Harry would like to dedicate the bridge that passes over Route 28/422 along Freeport Road.
“It’s probably not the most-used bridge around, but it’s close to where we lived,” Harry said. “There are not too many other bridges around.”
Township Supervisor Dan Goldinger and the other two supervisors unanimously gave their support.
“Harry, you’ve got my support 100 percent,” Goldinger said.
A 1966 graduate of Kittanning Senior High and a student at Lenape Technical School in Manor Township, Joseph’s classmates have also memorialized him online and during class reunions.
Records show Joseph – whose name appears on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Lower Burrell and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. -earned the National Defense Service Medal, Purple Heart and Vietnam Campaign Medial for his service.
One of Joseph’s classmates -Marine Corporal John Olsenanik – was also killed in Vietnam. He died in 1968.
Harry hopes legislation and construction is complete in order to dedicate the bridge before September 30 – which would have been Joseph‘s 70th birthday.
East Franklin | jweaver October 28, 2016
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