SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 54

(By Senators Kirkendoll and Stollings)

Requesting the Division of Highways name the stretch of road beginning at Route 10 and the Logan and Lincoln county lines, going one mile into Logan County, the "USMC LCpl Larry G. Williamson Memorial Highway".

            Whereas, Larry G. Williamson was born on February 9, 1947, in Lincoln County to John B. and Georgia Napier Williamson. He had three sisters, Patty Egnor, Peggy Perry (deceased) and Robin Williamson. Larry G. Williamson attended Harts High School, played varsity basketball, was on the school newspaper and was secretary/treasurer of his senior class. He graduated in 1964 and attended Marshall University's Logan branch for two years. On September 9, 1967, at the age of twenty, Larry G. Williamson married Wanda Brumfield and moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he became manager of car parts and tires at a Firestone Automotive Center; and

            Whereas, In January 1969, Larry G. Williamson was drafted from West Virginia. While on a bus taking him for Army training, he was among the draftees separated and reassigned to the Marines. He received basic training at Camp Pendleton, California, and after a brief visit home was ordered to Vietnam and assigned to the 5th Marine Division. He soon received a promotion to Lance Corporal. In Vietnam, LCpl Larry G. Williamson was assigned as a squad leader in the First Platoon of Company G. On March 11, 1970, the squad was acting as a blocking force and was located approximately two miles northeast of An Hoa Combat Base in Quang Nam Province. LCpl Larry G. Williamson was killed when a well-concealed explosive device detonated. A squad corpsman rushed to his aid but death had been instantaneous. LCpl Larry G. Williamson received a Purple Heart, Rifle Sharpshooter, National Defense, Republic of Vietnam Service, Chien Dich Vietnam Medal and Boi-Tinh 1960 Medals; and

            Whereas, LCpl Larry G. Williamson made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and in doing so represented West Virginia and his country with the highest levels of honor and courage and his sacrifice should not go unnoticed. Naming that stretch of road in Logan County the "USMC LCpl Larry G. Williamson Memorial Highway" is an appropriate recognition of his ultimate sacrifice for state and country; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the stretch of road beginning at Route 10 and the Logan and Lincoln county lines, going one mile into Logan County, the "USMC LCpl Larry G. Williamson Memorial Highway"; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the stretch of road as the "USMC LCpl Larry G. Williamson Memorial Highway"; 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 family of LCpl Larry G. Williamson.