SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 11

(By Senators Stollings and Plymale)

[Introduced January 25, 2016]

Requesting Division of Highways name bridge number 4003, located in Boone County on Route 85, at mile marker 10.66 and crossing over to Bald Knob over the mouth of James Creek, the “U. S. Marine Corps Sergeant Gerald Leslie Perry Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Gerald Leslie Perry was born March 23, 1942, to “Nan” Perry and Charles Leslie Perry, both deceased, and resided at Bald Knob, Boone County, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Gerald Leslie Perry was nicknamed “Orangey” growing up in Boone County, due to his bright, orange-colored hair; and

Whereas, Gerald Leslie Perry joined the United States Marine Corps as a machine gunner and attained the rank of Sergeant; and

Whereas, Sergeant Gerald Leslie Perry served this country during the Vietnam War; and

Whereas, Sergeant Gerald Leslie Perry started his tour of duty in Vietnam in April, 1966; and

Whereas, Sergeant Gerald Leslie Perry, after only approximately four months into his tour of duty in Vietnam, paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country when he was killed by enemy gunfire in Quang Tin Province, South Vietnam; and

Whereas, It is believed that Sergeant Perry was the first soldier from Boone County to pay the ultimate sacrifice in service of his country in Vietnam; and

Whereas, Sergeant Gerald Leslie Perry has three surviving siblings, David Perry, Terry Perry and Nancy Perry Adkins; and

Whereas, It is fitting and appropriate that the bridge located on Route 85, at mile marker 10.66 where it crosses over to Bald Knob over the mouth of James Creek, designated as bridge number 4003 by the West Virginia Division of Highways, be named the “U. S. Marine Corps Sergeant Gerald Leslie Perry Memorial Bridge” in honor of this fallen soldier who paid the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of his country; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 4003, located in Boone County on Route 85, at mile marker 10.66 and crossing over to Bald Knob over the mouth of James Creek, the “U. S. Marine Corps Sergeant Gerald Leslie Perry Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to make and have placed signs identifying the “U. S. Marine Corps Sergeant Gerald Leslie Perry Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy to the surviving siblings of Sergeant Perry.