SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 15

(By Senators Romano, Facemire, Unger, Stollings, and Plymale)

[Introduced February 9, 2018]

Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 17-24-7.22 (17A148), locally known as Meadowbrook Bridge, carrying County Route 24 over West Fork River in Harrison County, the “U. S. Marine Corps SGT Stephen E. Drummond Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Stephen E. Drummond was born January 15, 1931, in Spelter, West Virginia, the son of General Shafter Drummond and Ruby Freeman Drummond; and

Whereas, Stephen E. Drummond had three brothers, Robert, Eugene, and Shafter “Brud” Drummond; and

Whereas, Stephen E. Drummond graduated from Victory High School in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and married Natalie Dodd, his childhood sweetheart, who was born on the same day and preceded him in death in 2009, and with whom he raised two children, daughter Ricki and son Jeff; and

Whereas, Stephen E. Drummond was drafted after high school graduation and became a proud U. S. Marine.  After basic training, he saw intense combat in Korea.  One day before his tour of duty was to end in Korea, his leg was severely wounded by shrapnel at the Battle of Vegas during an intense Chinese offensive; and

Whereas, SGT Stephen E. Drummond and other U. N. soldiers were captured and he was held as a prisoner of war for four months; and

Whereas, SGT Stephen E. Drummond was released as a prisoner of war with the signing of the armistice on July 27, 1953; and

Whereas, SGT Stephen E. Drummond was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, a United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal; and

Whereas, After returning home to Spelter, SGT Stephen E. Drummond earned a bachelor’s degree from Fairmont State College and a Master’s Degree from Miami University of Ohio, and began a career of more than 20 years as a mentor, coach, teacher, principal, administrator, and superintendent in various school systems; and

Whereas, Following retirement, SGT Stephen E. Drummond enjoyed traveling, visiting family members, and creating and selling his invention, Tara-Lite, for which he held a design patent; and

Whereas, SGT Stephen E. Drummond died November 23, 2013; and

Whereas, It is fitting to dedicate an enduring memorial to SGT Stephen E. Drummond in recognition of his service to his country, to his community, and to the teaching profession; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 17-24-7.22 (17A148), locally known as Meadowbrook Bridge, carrying County Route 24 over West Fork River in Harrison County, the “U. S. Marine Corps SGT Stephen E. Drummond Memorial 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 “U. S. Marine Corps SGT Stephen E. Drummond 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 Commissioner of the Division of Highways.