HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 80

(By Delegates Reynolds, Toney, J. Jeffries, Booth, Jennings, Barnhart, Clark, L. Pack, Riley, Hanna, Conley, Ferrell, Householder, Howell, J. Kelly, J. Pack, Rohrbach, Smith and Storch)

[Introduced March 29, 2021]

Requesting the Division of Highways name a portion of US Route 250, beginning at mile marker 31.35, and ending at its intersection with WV 2, mile marker 31.63, in Marshall County, the “U. S. Marine Corps LCpl Leonard Joe Zelaski, Jr. Memorial Road”.

Whereas, Leonard Joe Zelaski, Jr. was born on July 18, 1948, in Marshall County, and was the son of Leonard Joe Zelaski, Sr. and Betty Leola Liston Zelaski; and

Whereas, Leonard Joe Zelaski, Jr. entered the U.S. Marine Corps on December 1, 1966; he began his tour of duty in Vietnam on May 13, 1967, where he served as a Mortarman in K Company, 3^rd Battalion, 1^st Marines Regiment of the 1^st Marine Division; and

Whereas, LCpl Leonard Joe Zelaski, Jr. was killed in a hostile action by hostile small arms fire northeast of Dong Ha, Quang Tri Provence, South Vietnam on March 2, 1968, during Operation Napoleon/Saline, in which 31 other U. S. Troops also lost their lives; and

Whereas, U. S. Marine Corps LCpl Leonard Joe Zelaski, Jr. arrived home to West Virginia on March 13, 1968, and was interred in Riverview Cemetery, Moundsville West Virginia; and

Whereas, U. S. Marine Corps LCpl Leonard Joe Zelaski, Jr. received the following commendations and awards in honor of his service in the U.S. Marine Corps: the Purple Heart, Combat Defense Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, and the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal; and 

Whereas, U.S. Marine Corps LCpl Leonard Joe Zelaski, Jr.’s name is inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D. C. on Panel 42E, Line 045, in recognition of his service and his ultimate sacrifice for our country; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate U.S. Marine Corps LCpl Leonard Joe Zelaski, Jr., honoring his life and his contributions 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 a portion of US Route 250, beginning at mile marker 31.35, and ending at its intersection with WV 2, mile marker 31.63, in Marshall County, the “U. S. Marine Corps LCpl Leonard Joe Zelaski, Jr. Memorial Road”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs at both ends identifying the portion of road as the “U. S. Marine Corps LCpl Leonard Joe Zelaski, Jr. Memorial Road”; and, be it

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