Knowles Honors Two Hometown Heroes at Orwigsburg Highway Dedication Ceremonies
TAMAQUA – On Friday, portions of area highways were dedicated in honor of two Orwigsburg natives who were each killed in the line of duty while defending their country, said Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-Berks/Carbon/Schuylkill). These highways were dedicated as a result of a new law, inspired by
House Bills 834 and
441, authored by Knowles.
“It was a true honor to work with the families of these two hometown heroes who so bravely and valiantly served their country,” Knowles said. “Their sacrifice and dedicated service will never be forgotten.”
Corporal David F. Heiser Memorial Highway
A portion of State Route 443 in Orwigsburg Borough was designated as the Cpl. David F. Heiser Memorial Highway. Cpl. Heiser was killed while serving in Vietnam when he was 22 years old. He was a native of Orwigsburg who graduated from Blue Mountain High School in 1965. In 1968, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He trained at Fort Benning, GA, as an infantryman and as an Army medic. In 1968, he was promoted to the rank of corporal and was sent to Vietnam. While a medic, his platoon was ambushed on Feb. 2, 1969, in Binh Duong, Vietnam, and he was killed in action. Heiser received the Purple Heart medal for his fatal injuries in Binh Duong and the Bronze Star with Valor for his courageous actions that day. He is buried at Kimmels Church of God Cemetery in Orwigsburg. Heiser is remembered and honored on Panel 33W, Row 40, of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Captain Jason B. Jones Memorial Highway
A portion of State Route 61 was designated as the Capt. Jason Jones Memorial Highway. Jones was killed while serving in Afghanistan at the age of 29. Jones, an Orwigsburg native graduated from Blue Mountain High School in 2003. He then attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he graduated sixth in his class with a degree in nuclear engineering in 2007. Jones was awarded the Bronze Star for his deployment in Iraq from 2008 to 2009. In May 2013 he joined the Green Berets, and was deployed to Afghanistan in April 2014. Jones was killed June 2, 2014, of wounds from small-arms fire in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
Joining Knowles at the ceremonies were Rep. Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Dauphin); Rep. Neal Goodman (D-Schuylkill); Sen. David G. Argall (R-29); Schuylkill County Commissioners Frank Staudenmeier, George Halcovage and Gary Hess; Executive Director of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Bob Carl; Orwigsburg Borough Manager Robert Williams; and the families of both Cpl. David Heiser and Capt. Jason Jones.
For more information about these highway dedications, or any other legislative topic, contact Knowles’ district office in Tamaqua at 570-668-1240, or in Hamburg at 610-562-3411. Information can also be found online at
RepKnowles.com or
Facebook.com/RepKnowles.
Representative Jerry Knowles
124th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
RepKnowles.com /
Facebook.com/RepKnowles