Barton to Host Dedication for Bridge Named in Honor of Local Vietnam War Hero

March 24, 2025

HAMBURG - Rep. Jamie Barton (R-Berks/Schuylkill) is hosting a ceremony to dedicate the State Street Bridge in Hamburg in honor of Vietnam War hero and Hamburg native Jackie Seltzer. The event will be held Thursday, March 27, at 11 a.m. in the rear parking lot of Correll’s Notary, located at 555 State St. in Hamburg.

“Sgt. Seltzer was a hero in every sense of the word,” Barton said. “With each passing decade, it gets easier to forget the brave Americans who gave their lives defending freedom in southeast Asia. I hope that this bridge bearing his name will remind folks in Hamburg, and everyone who passes through, that we wouldn’t enjoy the blessings we have today without the courage of people like Sgt. Seltzer.”

Seltzer’s many military awards include a Bronze Star and a Silver Star for his bravery in Phu Loi. On May 12, 1968, Seltzer’s team was pinned down by enemy fire. With his platoon leader badly wounded, Seltzer took command and charged through a swamp to assault the enemy position, preventing many more casualties. He was shot and killed while returning to his team.

“After Jackie’s induction into the Berks County Military Hall of Fame in 2016 his friends and fellow Vietnam veterans felt that more should be done to ensure that Jackie’s memory would live on in his hometown,” said VFW Post 216 member Steve Cashman. “No single quote or saying, no matter how profound, will highlight what Jackie meant to his buddies and fellow veterans, so we embarked on this mission to name the bridge in his memory. The willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting thanks, and hopefully, this dedication will secure Jackie’s well-deserved recognition of his memory for future generations of Hamburg residents.”

Rep. Jamie Barton
124th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jake Gillespie
717.772.9834
JGillespie@pahousegop.com
RepBarton.com / Facebook.com/RepBarton