Franklin County bridge could be named for fallen Vietnam soldier from Chambersburg

An effort is underway to name a Franklin County bridge for a fallen soldier. 

Rep. John Hershey, R-82, introduced House Bill 1946 to name the bridge that runs over Back Creek at the border of Hamilton and St. Thomas townships in honor of Army Sgt. Melvin G. Ehrhart. The bridge on State Route 3012 would be known as the Sgt. Melvin G. Ehrhart Memorial Bridge. 

Hershey welcomed Ehrhart's family to the House chamber on Tuesday. 

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"Sgt. Ehrhart's feats in battle defied reality... Although seriously wounded by an enemy grenade, Sgt. Ehrhart continued to lead his men until he was mortally wounded by enemy fire," Hershey said. 

Ehrhart, who was from Chambersburg, served in the Army from Oct. 10, 1968, until his death on April 28, 1969, while in Vietnam with Company D, 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry. He was 20 when he died, according to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

The House passed the bill on Tuesday. It now goes to the Senate.