SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 44

(By Senators Boso and Stollings)

Requesting the Division of Highways name the bridge on U. S. Route 219 crossing Files Creek, bridge number 42-219-33.10 (42A137) 38.83753, -79.87568, near Beverly, Randolph County, the "U. S. Navy PO2 Robert Paul Laderach Memorial Bridge".

            Whereas, Robert Paul Laderach was born May 8, 1917, in Beverly, Randolph County, the son of Ernest and Mary Agnes Adams Laderach. His family lived on a farm on Dotson Run and he was educated in Beverly, attending Beverly High School. He joined the Navy in October 1937. Robert was serving on board the U.S.S. Arizona in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, when that ship was attacked and sunk without provocation by the Japanese Navy on the "Date that Shall Live in Infamy". Robert and five other West Virginians were killed that day and he and 102 of his shipmates are still entombed and are on 'Eternal Patrol' in the U. S. S. Arizona in Pearl Harbor. He received the posthumous awards of Purple Heart, WW II Victory Award Ribbon Bar, Asiatic Pacific Medal and Campaign Medal and USS Arizona BB-39 Pearl Harbor Patch. Robert was survived by his parents and sisters Anna Pauline Laderach and Margaret Virginia Laderach; and

            Whereas, Naming the bridge on U. S. Route 219 crossing Files Creek, bridge number 42-219-33.10 (42A137) 38.83753, -79.87568, near Beverly in Randolph County, the "U. S. Navy PO2 Robert Paul Laderach Memorial Bridge" is an appropriate recognition of his ultimate sacrifice to his country, state, community and Randolph County; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the bridge on U. S. Route 219 crossing Files Creek, bridge number 42-219-33.10 (42A137) 38.83753, -79.87568, near Beverly, Randolph County, the "U. S. Navy PO2 Robert Paul Laderach 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 "U. S. Navy PO2 Robert Paul Laderach Memorial Bridge"; 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 the Department of Transportation and the surviving relatives of Robert Paul Laderach.