HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 64

(By Delegates Lucas, Heckert, DeVault, and W. Clark)

[February 24, 2025; Referred
to the committee on Rules]

A resolution to preserve the timeless beauty and heritage of West Virginia’s natural wonders. Declaring that the landmarks, state parks, national forests, public waters, wildlife management areas, and all other state-owned properties within the great state of West Virginia shall remain untouched by the renaming of any politician, thus preserving their historical and natural integrity for generations to come.

Whereas, The majestic lands of West Virginia stand as a testament to the grandeur of nature’s artistry, boasting some of the most breathtaking and revered landmarks in the United States of America, each imbued with the spirit of those who have walked before us; and

Whereas, The great state of West Virginia is graced with an abundance of treasured state parks, where towering forests, rolling hills, and cascading waterfalls weave together a tapestry of unparalleled beauty, offering sanctuary to both residents and visitors alike; and

Whereas, The national forests of West Virginia, verdant and untamed, serve as a haven for flora and fauna, their ancient trees whispering stories of the past, their rivers carving deep into the very soul of the Appalachian landscape; and

Whereas, The pristine public waters of West Virginia, from the serene mountain lakes to the meandering rivers that carve through the valleys, provide solace, recreation, and a vital source of life, reflecting the sky in their glassy surfaces and carrying the spirit of the land in their currents; and

Whereas, The wildlife management areas of this great state, tranquil and unspoiled, stand as sacred spaces where the harmony of nature reigns, where creatures roam freely in their natural habitats, untouched by the hand of unnecessary human interference; and

Whereas, These hallowed lands--formed not by the fleeting ambitions of mankind, but by the enduring hand of time itself--are to be cherished not for the names they bear, but for the history, beauty, and wilderness they embody; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That no landmark, no state park, no national forest, no public waterway, no wildlife management area, nor any other property held in trust by the state shall ever be renamed in honor of any politician, for these lands belong not to individuals, but to the people, and to the generations yet to come; and, be it

Further Resolved, that the Clerk of the House of Delegates shall forward this solemn declaration to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, accompanied by a copy of this adopted resolution, to ensure that the legacy of West Virginia’s natural and historical wonders remains forever untouched by the tides of political vanity.