COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 27

(By Delegates M. Poling and Hamilton)

Requesting that bridge number 1-11-6.35 (01A016), located .01 mile east of County Route 36 on County Route 11 and crossing over the Middle Fork River, be renamed “The Audra Park Bridge In Memory of Army Sergeant John A. Charnoplosky”.

    Whereas, John A. Charnoplosky was born December 31, 1952, at Buckhannon, West Virginia, the son of George Charnoplosky and Dorothy Lee Charnoplosky Weekley; and

    Whereas, John A. Charnoplosky had three brothers, Tony A., Philip W. and George Charnoplosky; and

    Whereas, John A. Charnoplosky had a step-father, Lee Weekley, step-sisters Mrs. Pam Spencer and Mrs. Nancy Hall, and step-brother Norman Weekley; and

    Whereas, John A. Charnoplosky graduated from Philip Barbour High School in 1970, where he was an outstanding athlete, lettering in football, track and wrestling; and

    Whereas, Sergeant John A. Charnoplosky was serving as a door gunner on a UHI helicopter for the 187th Assault Helicopter Company on November 15, 1971 when he died as a result of a mid-air collision with another UHI helicopter as they were returning to refuel after landing South Vietnamese troops on a combat operation ten miles east of the Cambodian border; and

    Whereas, Sergeant John A. Charnoplosky is listed on the wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C. at Panel W2, Line 67; and

    Whereas, During his service, Sergeant John A. Charnoplosky frequently participated in more than two flights per day over hostile territory in support of counterinsurgency operations; and

    Whereas, Sergeant John A. Charnoplosky was awarded two Air Medals for heroism and a Purple Heart; and

    Whereas, It is proper that an enduring reminder be dedicated to the memory of the service and sacrifice given by Sergeant John A. Charnoplosky; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 1-11-6.35 (01A016), located .01 mile east of County Route 36 on County Route 11 and crossing over the Middle Fork River, be renamed “The Audra Park Bridge In Memory of Army Sergeant John A. Charnoplosky”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both ends of the bridge containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the bridge “The Audra Park Bridge In Memory of Army Sergeant John A. Charnoplosky”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways and to family members of Army Sergeant John A. Charnoplosky.