DeStefano Holds Press Conference for Passage of Bill Designating Portion of the State Highway System as SSgt. Louis Bonacasa Memorial Bridge
Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) pictured with Sen. Kenneth LaValle, Suffolk County Legislator Rudy Sunderman, Colonel Hedges of Veterans Affairs, Diana & Vincent Bonacasa (parents of Louis), John Rago, former commander of VFW Post 400, and its members on August 14 at the press conference for the passage of the SSgt. Louis Bonacasa Memorial Bridge (A.7296-A).
U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Louis Bonacasa, age 31, of Suffolk County was killed in a suicide attack while on patrol near Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in December 2015. Assemblyman Joe DeStefano sponsored legislation that designates a portion of the state highway system as “SSgt. Louis Bonacasa Memorial Bridge” (A.7296-A), which was signed by Gov. Cuomo on August 9, 2019. The portion dedicated to the fallen solider is the bridge on Yaphank Avenue between the northbound and southbound service roads, crossing the Long Island Expressway.
“It was an honor working with Sen. LaValle on sponsoring this bill and I am very happy to see its passage,” DeStefano said. “Staff Sergeant Louis Bonacasa gave the ultimate sacrifice protecting our country. Dedicating this bridge in his name is one small way to honor the bravery, dedication and sacrifice of this American hero.”
U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Louis Bonacasa was an Air National Guardsman deployed abroad on active duty. He left behind his wife of 11 years, Deborah, and a young daughter, Lily. SSgt. Bonacasa enlisted in the Air Force two days after graduating from Newfield High School in Selden in 2002. He had previously served in Iraq, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.