SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 64

(By Senators Palumbo, Plymale, Jeffries,

Stollings, Beach and Takubo)

[Introduced March 9, 2019]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 20-73/5-0.55, locally known as Point Lick Bridge, carrying Route 73/5 over Campbells Creek in Kanawha County, the “U. S. Marine Corps CPL Larry Scott Kennedy Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Larry Scott Kennedy was born in Charleston, West Virginia, May 15, 1947, and died March 6, 1968, in Khe Sanh, Vietnam. He was the first child and only son born to Clyde J. Kennedy and Janet Trigg Kennedy; and

Whereas, Larry Scott Kennedy attended New Lexington High School in New Lexington, Ohio, was senior class president at New Lexington High School, and was deeply admired by his peers. He was on the football team at New Lexington High School and helped carry his team to victory at the Muskingham Valley Championship; and

Whereas, Larry Scott Kennedy helped his relatives build a home for his family at Point Lick on Campbells Creek. He treasured nature and enjoyed fishing, trapping, and hunting with his parents and his dogs; and

Whereas, Larry Scott Kennedy attended West Virginia University for one year and aspired to finish college to become a forester after he returned home from service; and

Whereas, Larry Scott Kennedy joined the U. S. Marine Corps and departed for Parris Island in July 1967 and was sent to AIT Camp Lejeune in North Carolina thereafter where he served as a Forward Observer for the Artillery; and

Whereas, CPL Larry Scott Kennedy was sent to Camp Pendleton in California, and from there he was sent to Khe Sanh, Vietnam, along with 6,000 fellow Marines. He fell ill for three weeks in Vietnam and he valiantly persevered through his illness; he worked alongside the Bru Montagnards, finding brotherhood through a love of the mountains and fighting for peace; and

Whereas, CPL Larry Scott Kennedy was wounded on the hand by shrapnel that killed a Marine nearby. He was subsequently injured with a damaging concussion and internal bleeding after being launched 30 feet into the air; he received two Purple Hearts during his service; and

Whereas, During CPL Larry Scott Kennedy’s recovery at a hospital in Da Nang, his best friend George L. Elliott III, diligently remained by his side. They decided to return to Khe Sanh together because they knew every capable man was needed. The plane that carried CPL Larry Scott Kennedy and George L. Elliott III, back to Khe Sanh was shot down by enemy forces and everyone aboard was pronounced dead or missing in action; and

Whereas, CPL Larry Scott Kennedy was killed in action on March 6, 1968, and now rests at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate CPL Larry Scott Kennedy’s and his sacrifice to our state and country; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 20-73/5-0.55, locally known as Point Lick Bridge, carrying Route 73/5 over Campbells Creek in Kanawha county, the “U. S. Marine Corps CPL Larry Scott Kennedy 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 CPL Larry Scott Kennedy 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.