COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3

(By Senators Cann and Yost)

[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]

Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 17-19-23.26 in Gypsy, Harrison County, the “U. S. Navy Seaman First Class Sam Lopez Bridge”.

    Whereas, Sam Lopez was born September 27, 1924, in Shinnston, West Virginia, the son of Pete and Mary Lopez; and

    Whereas, After being raised in Shinnston, Sam Lopez enlisted in the United States Navy in May of 1943 and was assigned to the USS Indianapolis in August of the same year; and

    Whereas, The USS Indianapolis was the pride of the United States Navy and was chosen to be the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, carrying a crew of one thousand two hundred men; and

    Whereas, While stationed on the USS Indianapolis, Sam Lopez took part in the battles of Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the key battles of Midway and the Philippine Sea; and

    Whereas, In July of 1945, after completing a top-secret mission, the USS Indianapolis set sail for Guam where it was to take part in gunnery practice with the USS Idaho in preparation for the invasion of Japan; and

    Whereas, On July 30, 1945, at 12:15 a.m., the USS Indianapolis was hit by enemy fire; and

    Whereas, The USS Indianapolis quickly began taking on water and the order was given to abandon ship; and

    Whereas, After jumping in the water that night, Sam Lopez spent four desperate days floating in the Pacific before being rescued; and

    Whereas, Out of one thousand two hundred men aboard, only three hundred and seventeen survived, and Sam Lopez was among the survivors of the Navy’s worst tragedy at sea; and

    Whereas, Sam Lopez married his beloved wife Joanne, with whom he shared the joy of having two children, Linda and Sam Jr., and four grandchildren, James, Bryan, Shawn and Shane; and

    Whereas, It is fitting to recognize the service and sacrifice of Sam Lopez by naming this bridge as an everlasting tribute to him; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 17-19-23.26 in Gypsy, Harrison County, the “U. S. Navy Seaman First Class Sam Lopez Bridge”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “U. S. Navy Seaman First Class Sam Lopez Bridge”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.