SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 57

(By Senators Romano, Facemire, Stollings, Lindsay, Beach, Unger, and Jeffries)

[Introduced March 3, 2020]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 17-034/00-000.01 (17A296), locally known as the Laurel Park Truss, carrying County Route 34 over the West Fork River in Harrison County, the “Frye Brothers Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Three of four Frye brothers served in World War II, with one brother killed in action; and

Whereas, The oldest Frye brother, Thomas, was not allowed to enlist because he worked in the defense industry and would have been his widowed mother’s sole source of support if his younger brothers were all killed; and

 Whereas, Kermit C. Frye was drafted in 1940 and served as a Navy Seaman Second Class; and

Whereas, Kermit C. Frye was killed in action with his body “lost at sea” after the East Indian motor merchant ship was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of South Africa on November 3, 1942; and

Whereas, Kermit C. Frye was awarded a posthumous Purple Heart and memorialized with a cross at the North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia; and

Whereas, Richard G. Frye was drafted in 1942 and served as Army Private First Class, fighting in both Africa and Germany; and

Whereas, Harold Q. Frye, known as “Red” due to the color of his hair, was drafted in 1942 and served as a Private First Class cannoneer in the 119th Field Artillery Division of the 9th Army; and

Whereas, Harold Q. Frye jumped into the icy waters off Normandy, surrounded by the bodies of dead comrades, making it safely to shore despite a severe asthma attack and carrying a 90-pound pack while fellow soldier Dale Crim shouted, “Swim, Frye!  Swim, dammit!” and, later, Crim told Frye’s daughter that the experience was so traumatic that most soldiers never spoke of it, but he wanted her to know the bravery her father demonstrated encouraging others to survive; and

Whereas, Harold Q. Frye operated a “Long Tom” gun during the Battle of the Bulge with a commendation from the XIX Corps Artillery headquarters for protecting aircraft, armor, and infantry as soldiers rapidly ran through Germany in pursuit of enemy troops; and

Whereas, Harold Q. Frye received an additional commendation from Lieutenant General W. H. Simpson for taking part in that six-week long bloody battle where approximately 19,000 American troops were killed before crushing the German Army; and

Whereas, Harold Q. Frye returned to Clarksburg after the war and served as a nursing assistant at the VA Hospital in Clarksburg for more than 20 years where he was recognized for saving the life of a patient who was choking, and later retired after being attacked by a psychiatric patient; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate these valiant brothers and their service to our state and country; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 17-034/00-000.01 (17A296), locally known as the Laurel Park Truss, carrying County Route 34 over the West Fork River in Harrison County, the “Frye Brothers Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “Frye Brothers Memorial 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.