Bridges in Northern York county to be renamed to honor Maine veterans

Three bills have been passed to rename bridges in Northern York county to honor veterans, with one bill still pending the governor’s signature.

LD 37 and LD 79 were signed into law recently by Governor Janet Mills.

LD 37 was sponsored by Senator Donna Bailey of Saco and Co-Sponsored by State Rep. Lori Gramlich of Old Orchard Beach. It will rename the Goosefare Brook Bridge the Captain Christopher S. Cash Memorial Bridge.

The Goosefare Brook Bridge is located on Route 9, connecting West Grand Avenue in the Ocean Park section of Old Orchard Beach to Seaside Avenue in Saco.

Cash, an Old Orchard Beach High School graduate, died June 24, 2004 in the line of duty in Iraq while serving in the North Carolina National Guard. He was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious service, a Purple Heart for being injured in battle and a combat infantryman badge for his time spent fighting.

LD 79 was sponsored by State Rep. Marc Malon of Biddeford and co-sponsored by Bailey along with State Rep. Lynn Copeland of Saco, State Rep. Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford, State Rep. Marshall Archer of Saco, State Rep. Drew Gattine of Westbrook, State Rep. Traci Gere of Kennebunkport and Senator Henry Ingwersen of Arundel. 

LD 79 will rename the rename the bridge on Main Street between Saco and Biddeford the General Wallace H. Nutting Memorial Bridge.

Nutting served as the mayor of Biddeford from 2003-2007 and died in 2023 at the age of 95. He was a four-star general and earned a Purple Heart, Silver Star and Soldier’s Medal during service in the Army in Korea.

Both LD 37 and LD 79 will go into effect on June 20, according to a press release from Bailey.

LD 672, sponsored by Bailey, will rename the Salmon Falls Bridge Between Buxton and Hollis the Salmon Falls Veterans Memorial Bridge. LD 672 was passed by the Senate on April 10 and will go to the Governor’s desk for her signature.

“With this vote, I have been able to help rename three bridges in Senate District 31,” said Bailey in a written statement. “Each bridge — whether in Buxton, Old Orchard Beach or Saco — will honor Maine’s veterans, including local heroes Captain Cash and General Nutting, with new names. I am proud to support our veterans. When the ice and the snow melt, I look forward to seeing the signs, knowing they will remind all who travel these bridges of the sacrifices our veterans have made."

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.