Cambria County bridge dedicated to army veteran

CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Dozens gathered at the American Legion in Loretto Friday to formally dedicate a bridge in honor of an army veteran.

Family, friends, service members and lawmakers attended the formal bridge dedication for Tech Sergeant Joseph F. Johnston. Johnston was born in November 1917 and raised in a rural area leading up to his graduation from high school in 1938.

In 1941, Johnston enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to the 9th Division, 39th Infantry regiment where he rose to the ranks of Tech Sergeant and Platoon Leader.

The bridge now bears his name and is located along Route 43 near Dean, where he grew up and his family still lives.

"It was over four years, and it finally came true," Ray Johnston, Joseph Johnston's son, said. "We grew up in Dean, so it's only fitting that we had the bridge. My brother said 'Let's see if we could get the bridge named after dad'. Dad was a life member up here at the legion so it's fitting we had it here."

Johnston received bronze and silver stars along with the Prestigious Legion of Merit. He passed in November 2010.