Fallen Marine Samuel Schultz Honored With Montco Bridge Renaming

ABINGTON, PA — A fallen U.S. Marine pilot who died during a stateside training exercise back in 2018 was honored when a local bridge was named for him during a recent ceremony in his hometown community.

On July 2, a ceremony took place on the Edge Hill road bridge over Old York Road (State Route 611) in Abington Township designating that structure the Captain Samuel Schultz Memorial Bridge, according to reports.

The bridge is named in honor of Schultz, a Huntingdon Valley native, and 2008 Abington High School graduate, who died in April 2018 when the helicopter he and three other Marines were flying in went down in a crash in the dessert of El Centro, California, about two hours east of San Diego.

Schultz’s death was previously reported in Patch.

Schultz, who had joined the Marines in 2012, was 28 years old at the time of his death.

An Act naming the bridge in Schultz’s honor was introduced back in July 2019 by State Rep. Benjamin Sanchez, (D-153), according to legislative records.

According to the legislation, originally titled House Bill 1719, Schultz had wanted to follow in his family’s footsteps and become a pilot, first receiving his private pilot’s license at 18 years of age, and later joining the U.S. Marine Corps, serving as a pilot assigned to the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California.

Last week’s ceremony coincided with the July Fourth holiday weekend.

News reports stated that the Abington Township Police Color Guard opened the ceremony with the presentation of colors, with the parents of the deceased Schultz, Julie and Mitchell Schultz, in attendance as their son was honored by local officials.

Rep. Sanchez had previously thanked the parents in a statement in a 2020 newsletter, stating at the time, “I would again like to personally thank Captain Schultz’s parents, Mitchell and Julie Schultz, for their participation, support, patience and friendship during the entire process of securing the necessary law and approvals allowing the bridge dedication to happen.”

“May we always remember Captain Schultz and all those and their families who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Sanchez had stated in the newsletter.