ENGROSSED
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 18
(By Delegates Butcher, Eldridge, Stowers and Rodighiero)
Requesting the Division of Highways name both the northbound and
southbound bridge along U.S. 119 straddling the Little Coal
River between Lincoln County and Kanawha County, just south of
the Lincoln County Route 1/2- McCorkle exit, identified as
bridge number 20-119-1.06 "3174", the "Chief Master Sergeant
George Wallace Hedrick, Jr. Bridge".
Whereas, George Wallace Hedrick, Jr.
was born in Ivy Branch,
Boone County, West Virginia in September of 1924, the eldest son of
George W. and Lella Hedrick Watson and Edna Holstein; and
Whereas,
The place of George's birth is located in close
proximity to said bridges straddling the Little Coal River; and
Whereas,
George spent his formative years in beautiful and
rugged mountains of West Virginia, and attended East Bank High
School; and
Whereas,
When the United States became an arsenal for democracy
during World War II, George became one of many proud West
Virginians who served his country, and enlisted in the United
States Army Air Corps (which eventually became the United States Air Force) on March 28, 1943; and
Whereas,
George had an exemplary career as a pilot of both B-24
and B-29 bombers, and rising from Private First Class to Chief
Master Sergeant, and served in such capacity throughout the world
from Frankfort, Germany to Tokyo, Japan; and
Whereas,
George retired from the United States Air Force with
honors from his country on June 1, 1964; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia
:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways
to name the
bridges along U.S. 119 straddling the Little Coal River
between Lincoln County and Kanawha County, just south of the
Lincoln County Route 1/2- McCorkle exit, identified as bridge
number 20-119-1.06 "3174", the "Chief Master Sergeant George
Wallace Hedrick, Jr. Bridge", to honor George Wallace Hedrick, Jr.
for his service and sacrifice to his community
and his country;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby
requested to have made and be placed signs identifying said bridges
as the "Chief Master Sergeant George Wallace Hedrick, Jr. Bridge";
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerks of both houses forward a
copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of
Transportation and to the family of George Wallace Hedrick, Jr.