SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8

(By Senators Deeds, Jeffries, and Karnes)

[Introduced January 11, 2024]

Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 13-060/00-009.57 (13A107), (37.95830, -80.68340), locally known as BIG CLEAR CREEK BRIDGE, carrying US 060 over BIG CLEAR CREEK in Greenbrier County as the "U.S. Army Corporal Clemon Knapp Memorial Bridge".

Whereas, Corporal Clemon Knapp of Meadow Bluff, Greenbrier County, West Virginia, was born on July 16, 1922, to William and Della Shaver Knapp; and

Whereas, Corporal Clemon Knapp served with the First U.S. Army, Ninth-Armored Division in the European Theatre of World War II, beginning on October 21, 1942, as a Tank Gunner and was engaged at the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945; and

Whereas, Corporal Clemon Knapp was involved in the Battle of Remagen, an 18-day battle during the Allied invasion of Germany which lasted from March 7, 1945, to March 25, 1945, during which American forces captured the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine River, for which he received three Bronze Stars and a Silver Star for his actions, and was honored by the government of France with the French Legion of Honor Medal; and

Whereas, Corporal Clemon Knapp on June 25, 1969, attended the Huntington, West Virginia, premier of the movie "The Bridge at Remagen" based on a book written by U.S Representative Kenneth William Hechler and was presented a key to the city; and

Whereas, Corporal Clemon Knapp returned to Rupert, Greenbrier County, West Virginia, after his discharge on November 6, 1945, and raised his family with wife Zella Armstrong Knapp, including daughters Betty Sue Robinson (William), Brenda Lewis (Frank), and son Randall Knapp (Judy); and

Whereas, Corporal Clemon Knapp worked as an independent truck driver for Meadow River Lumber Company, Knapp Transfer, and Burns Motor Freight, was a member of the Big Clear Creek Baptist Church, and served as the Mayor of Rupert, Greenbrier County, West Virginia for 10 years; and

Whereas, Corporal Clemon Knapp passed away at the age of 94 on May 31, 2017, and was laid to rest at the Wallace Memorial Mausoleum in Clintonville; and

Whereas, It is proper to dedicate a fitting memorial to this soldier and former mayor; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 13-060/00-009.57 (13A107), (37.95830, -80.68340), locally known as BIG CLEAR CREEK BRIDGE, carrying US 060 over BIG CLEAR CREEK in Greenbrier County as the "U.S. Army Corporal Clemon Knapp Memorial Bridge" and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the "U.S. Army Corporal Clemon Knapp 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.