Introduced Version
Senate Concurrent Resolution 3 History
OTHER VERSIONS -
Committee Substitute (1)
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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3
(By Senators Cann and Yost)
Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 17-19-
23.26 in Gypsy, Harrison County, the "Sergeant First Class Sam
Lopez Bridge".
Whereas, Sam Lopez was born September 27, 1924, in Shinnston,
West Virginia, the son of Pete and Mary Lopez; and
Whereas, After being raised in Shinnston, Sam Lopez enlisted
in the United States Navy in May of 1943 and was assigned to the
USS Indianapolis in August of the same year; and
Whereas, The USS Indianapolis was the pride of the United
States Navy and was chosen to be the flagship of the Pacific Fleet,
carrying a crew of 1,200 men; and
Whereas, While stationed on the USS Indianapolis, Sam Lopez
took part in the battles of Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Iwo Jima, Okinawa
and the key battles of Midway and the Philippine Sea; and
Whereas, In July of 1945, after completing a top-secret
mission, the USS Indianapolis set sail for Guam where it was to
take part in gunnery practice with the USS Idaho in preparation for
the invasion of Japan; and
Whereas, On July 30, 1945, at 12:15 a.m., the USS Indianapolis
was hit by enemy fire; and
Whereas, The USS Indianapolis quickly began taking on water and the order was given to abandon ship; and
Whereas, After jumping in the water that night, Sam Lopez
spent four desperate days floating in the Pacific before being
rescued; and
Whereas, Out of 1,200 men aboard, only 317 survived, and Sam
Lopez was among the survivors of the Navy's worst tragedy at sea;
and
Whereas, Sam Lopez married his beloved wife Joanne, with whom
he shared the joy of having two children, Linda and Sam Jr., and
four grandchildren, James, Bryan, Shawn and Shane; and
Whereas, It is fitting to recognize the service and sacrifice
of Sam Lopez by naming this bridge as an everlasting tribute to
him; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name
bridge number 17-19-23.26 in Gypsy, Harrison County, the "Sergeant
First Class Sam Lopez Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby
requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge
as the
"Sergeant First Class Sam Lopez Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby
directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner
of the Division of Highways.