SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 52

(By Senators Wells, Kessler (Mr. President), Plymale, Jenkins, D. Hall, Green, Edgell, Cookman, Yost and Unger)

Requesting the Division of Highways to place signage along highways entering West Virginia honoring fallen veterans and Gold Star Families.

    Whereas, More than ten thousand men and women from West Virginia have died during twentieth and twenty-first century military actions, either in combat or during the official period of conflict and prior to discharge from the military. The ultimate sacrifices made by these men and women for their country and West Virginia represent the highest levels of honor and courage and should not go unnoticed; and

    Whereas, Gold Star Families are those families who have family members who died or were killed serving in the armed forces. They are the families of fallen military heroes, whether they gave their lives in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Korea, WWII or another conflict; and

    Whereas, Rather than attempt to acknowledge individually each of these fallen warriors and patriots by finding a bridge or stretch of road or highway to be named for the individual veterans, it would be a more worthy form of recognition, homage and honor to these heroes and heroines and the Gold Star Families if signage were erected at the highways that enter West Virginia; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to place signage along highways entering West Virginia honoring fallen veterans and Gold Star Families; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to create and erect signs upon any highway entering the State of West Virginia on which a “Welcome to West Virginia” sign is posted, and any other highway the Division of Highways considers appropriate, posted at a distance of not more than one mile from each border crossing. Each sign shall read “West Virginia is proud to honor its fallen Veterans and Gold Star Families” and shall have affixed to it a gold star symbol similar to the design of the lapel pin approved under 10 U. S. C. § 1126; 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.