SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 16
(By Senators Tomblin, Mr. President, Jackson,
Buckalew, Ball and Chafin)
Requesting the Division of Highways to name two bridges on Corridor
G, the Robert C. Byrd Freeway, in Logan County in tribute to
Staff Sergeant Frankie Zoly Molnar and Sergeant Ted Belcher,
who were both awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Whereas, Staff Sergeant Frankie Zoly Molnar, United States
Army, Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, was born February 14,
1943, in Logan County, West Virginia; and
Whereas, During an intense battle with the North Vietnamese,
Staff Sergeant Frankie Zoly Molnar's squad was assisting in the
evacuation of wounded personnel when a hand grenade was thrown into
the group. Staff Sergeant Molnar, the first to see the grenade,
unselfishly threw himself on it and absorbed the deadly blast to
save his comrades. Staff Sergeant Frankie Zoly Molnar demonstrated
the finest of American bravery by his unselfish act and brought a
great credit to himself, the United States Army and the state of
West Virginia; and
Whereas, It is requested that the Mud Fork Bridge on Corridor
G, the Robert C. Byrd Freeway, be named in honor of Staff Sergeant
Frankie Zoly Molnar as a lasting memorial to this outstanding West Virginian who unselfishly gave his life for the lives of others and
who was posthumously awarded the nation's highest military award,
the Congressional Medal of Honor; and
Whereas, Sergeant Ted Belcher, United States Army, Company C,
1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, was born July
2, 1924, in Accoville, Logan County, West Virginia; and
Whereas, While leading his squad through dense Vietnamese
jungle, Sergeant Ted Belcher and his men fell under sniper fire.
Sergeant Belcher ordered his men to return fire and advance when a
hand grenade was thrown in the midst of his squad. Sergeant
Belcher, realizing the immediate danger to his men, instantly and
unhesitatingly lunged forward, covering the grenade to absorb the
blast and saved his squad. Sergeant Ted Belcher demonstrated the
finest of American bravery by his unselfish act and brought a great
credit to himself, the United States Army and the state of West
Virginia; and
Whereas, It is requested that the Holden Bridge on Corridor G,
the Robert C. Byrd Freeway, be named in honor of Sergeant Ted
Belcher as a lasting memorial to this outstanding West Virginian
who unselfishly gave his life for the lives of others and who was posthumously awarded the nation's highest military award, the
Congressional Medal of Honor; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways
to name the Mud Fork Bridge, on Corridor G, the Robert C. Byrd
Freeway, in Logan County, West Virginia, as the "Staff Sergeant
Frankie Molnar Bridge", as a memorial to a brave American soldier
who gave his life for his fellow man, and who was awarded the
Congressional Medal of Honor; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislature hereby requests the
West Virginia Division of Highways to name the Holden Bridge, on Corridor G, on the
Robert C. Byrd Freeway, in Logan County, West Virginia, as the
"Sergeant Ted Belcher Bridge", as a memorial to a brave American
soldier who gave his life for his fellow man, and who was awarded
the Congressional Medal of Honor; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby
directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of
Transportation and the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.