HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 43

(By Delegates Talbott, Hamilton, Argento, Armstead, Ashley, Azinger, Barker, Beane, Blair, Boggs, Brown, Browning, Butcher, Campbell, Cann, Canterbury, Caputo, Carmichael, Crosier, DeLong, Duke, Eldridge, Ellem, Ennis, Evans, Fragale, Frederick, Hartman, Hatfield, Houston, Howard, Hrutkay, Hunt, Iaquinta, Lane, Leach, Leggett, Longstreth, Louisos, Mahan, Manchin, Marshall, Martin, Miley, Moore, Morgan, Overington, Palumbo, Paxton, Perdue, Perry, Pethtel, Pino, Poling, Porter, Proudfoot, Roberts, Rowan, Schadler, Sobonya, Spencer, Stalnaker, Staton, Stephens, Stevens, Sumner, Susman, Swartzmiller, Tabb, Tansill, Rick Thompson, Ron Thompson, Trump, Tucker, Varner, Wakim, Walters, Webster, Wells, G. White, Williams, Wysong and Yost)
Requesting the Division of Highways name the bridge on State Route 20 that spans the Little Kanawha River at the Upshur/Webster County Line, the "Jerry Lee Groves and Thomas Paul Anderson Memorial Bridge."

Whereas, The miners who did not survive the disaster at the Sago Mine were fathers, sons and husbands, and most of them had labored in the coal mines all their adult lives following their fathers and grandfathers into an occupation that is inherently dangerous, but which offered a choice for a better future; and
Whereas, The notes left for their families and friends by the men who lost their lives makes us all aware of the strength that faith in God gives us and the courage to labor for the benefit of our country in an extremely dangerous environment where the sun never shines; and
Whereas, Every household and business in the country relies, to some degree, on coal generated electric power which is essential to the economic viability of our nation; and
Whereas, West Virginians are familiar with loss of life from mining disasters, and it is imperative that the loss of these miners demand better methods to protect and rescue those who survive; and
Whereas, Jerry and Tom died while engaged in an honorable and difficult occupation with ten of their fellow miners, with dignity and with grace, but before their time; and
Whereas, We should remember and honor Jerry and Tom and the miners that died at Sago, and, we must also remember not only the wives, sons, daughters, parents and family members who survived, but the friends, neighbors and West Virginians that all lived through this tragic occurrence; and
Whereas, We should remember (Psalm 78:6), "That the generations to come might know", that by dedicating this bridge and naming it in honor of Jerry Groves and Tom Anderson that it will serve as a marker for this state and country to begin the process of making coal mining a less dangerous occupation ; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways to name the bridge on State Route 20 that spans the Little Kanawha River at the Upshur/Webster County Line, the "Jerry Lee Groves and Thomas Paul Anderson 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 "Jerry Lee Groves and Thomas Paul Anderson Memorial Bridge "; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Division of Highways , and to the families of Jerry Groves and Tom Anderson.