SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 50
(By Senators Hunter, Wells, Sypolt,
Oliverio, Hall, Edgell and Boley)
[Originating in the Committee on Military]
Requesting the West Virginia congressional delegation sponsor
creation of a new national veterans' cemetery in southern West
Virginia.
Whereas, There now exist two national veterans' cemeteries in
West Virginia, one in Grafton and one in Pruntytown, both in the
north central part of the state, located within ten miles of each
other; and
Whereas, The majority of veterans in West Virginia live in
southern West Virginia, with 19,000 veterans living in Kanawha
County alone; and
Whereas, Veterans' families from southern West Virginia do not
utilize the veterans' national cemetery at Pruntytown because it is
too far away from family and friends; and
Whereas, A national veterans' cemetery in the southern part of
West Virginia would serve the greatest concentration of veteran
population in the state; and
Whereas, A national veterans' cemetery in the southern part of
West Virginia would not only serve those who served in the United States armed forces from southern West Virginia, but also those who
live in eastern Kentucky and western Virginia; and
Whereas, The West Virginia Code already contains a law whereby
the Division of Veterans' Affairs has the authority to acquire and
transfer real property to the United States Veterans'
Administration for the purpose of establishing a new national
cemetery; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests West Virginia's
congressional delegation to sponsor creation of a new national
veterans' cemetery in southern West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby
directed to forward a copy of this resolution to West Virginia's
congressional delegation, the Honorable Joe Manchin, Governor of
West Virginia, West Virginia Veterans' Coalition and Larry Linch,
Director, West Virginia Division of Veterans' Affairs.