HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 10

(By Delegate Westfall)

[Introduced January 10, 2024; Referred
to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Rules]

Requesting the Division of Highways name a portion of road on State Route 21 from the Wood County Line to the Kanawha County line as the "Remembering Our POW/MIA Highway."

Whereas, For many years, the American Legion supported a National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which is now recognized annually on the third Friday of September; and

Whereas, The Daughters of the American Revolution have contributed to recognizing our POW/MIA’s; and

Whereas, This commemoration is set aside to honor the commitment and sacrifices made by this nation's prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action, as well as their families, from WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and the Global War on Terror soldiers; and

Whereas, Unbreaking and unbending in their devotion to duty, our service members have sacrificed everything to keep our people and our democracy safe; and

Whereas, While more than 81,000 of these brave service members still remain missing and unaccounted for, they are not — and will never be — forgotten; and

Whereas, On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we honor the devotion and courage of all those missing and unaccounted for, renew our commitments to their families, and promise to never cease in our efforts to bring them home; and

Whereas, The POW/MIA flag flies over the White House, the United States Capitol, military bases, memorials, cemeteries, and homes across America; and

Whereas, It reminds us what it represents, and we remember the thousands of spouses, parents, sons, daughters, and loved ones who served and sacrificed for our freedom and future; loved ones who mourn with unanswered questions still in their hearts; and the debt of gratitude we owe them that we can never fully repay; and

Whereas, September 15, 2023, was designated by President Biden, as National POW/MIA Recognition Day, where he declared "Let all who read this know that America remains grateful to our heroes held in the worst imaginable conditions as prisoners of war.  Additionally, I encourage my fellow citizens across the Nation to reflect on today and let us not forget those heroes who never returned home from the battlefields around the world or their families who are still waiting for answers.  I call upon Federal, State, and local government officials and private organizations to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities."; and

Whereas, West Virginians Missing in Action since WWII: 1,089;  World War II MIA: 909; Korean War MIA: 160; Vietnam War MIA: 17; Cold War MIA: 3; Military branch with most missing in action: Army (555 unaccounted-for); and

Whereas, We need to remind our county, state, and country they are still "missing;" and

Whereas, For these reasons it is fitting and proper that the roadway be named in honor of the missing POWs; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways name a portion of road on State Route 21 from the Wood County Line to the Kanawha County line as the "Remembering Our POW/MIA Highway"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is requested to erect signs at both ends of the bridge containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the bridge as the "Remembering Our POW/MIA Highway"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.