HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 15
(By Delegates Iaquinta, Anderson, Argento, Ashley, Barker, Brown,
Cann, Crosier, Ferro, Fragale, Givens, Guthrie, Ireland, Klempa,
Lane, Lawrence, Longstreth, Louisos, Mahan, Martin, McGeehan,
Michael, Moore, Moye, Paxton, Perdue, Perry, D. Poling,
Rodighiero, Ross, Schadler, Shaver, Smith, Spencer, Stowers,
Talbott, Walker, Walters, Wells, White and Williams)
Requesting that the West Virginia State Veterans Cemetery be named
"THE DONEL KINNARD VETERANS CEMETERY."
Whereas, Donel Kinnard was born on April 5, 1936 in Logan; and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard was married to Rebecca McCann Kinnard;
and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard retired with twenty-two years in
military service, first in the United States Marine Corps and then
in the United States Navy, where he served with UDT and the SEALS
team; and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard was a recipient of the Navy Cross, the
Navy's highest medal, seven Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star and many
other medals, commendations and citations; and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard was the past state commander of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, past district commander of the VFW, past
post commander of the VFW and past president of the Hurricane Lions Club; and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard was a member of the Legion of Valor,
Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars,
American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, UDT-SEAL Association,
Fleet Reserve Association, Marine Corps League, Vietnam Veterans of
America and the Military Order of the Cooties; and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard played an instrumental role in
establishing a one hundred twenty bed, $32 million nursing facility
in Clarksburg; and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard was serving as chairman of the West
Virginia Veterans Council, chairman of the West Virginia Veterans
Nursing Home Committee and chairman of the West Virginia Veterans
Cemetery; and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard asked that his final resting place be
the West Virginia State Veterans Cemetery; and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard died on February 14, 2009; therefore, be
it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That it is hereby requested that the West Virginia State
Veterans Cemetery be named "THE DONEL KINNARD VETERANS CEMETERY";
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
forward a copy of this resolution to his wife, Rebecca McCann
Kinnard; six children and their spouses, his daughter, Theresa Johnson of Austin, Texas; his son, Donel Kinnard and his wife Tammy
Kinnard of Milford, Ohio; his son, Mike Kinnard and his wife Lina
Kinnard of Milton; his daughter, Melissa Kay Cliver and her husband
Tim Cliver of San Antonio, Texas; his daughter, Petra Kresse and
her husband Bob Kresse of Virginia Beach, Va.; his daughter,
Kimberly Tapia and her husband Ted Tapia of Longmont, Colorado; his
stepson, Larry Stamm and his wife Laurene Stamm of Mooresville,
North Carolina: his stepson, Wade Stamm of Huntersville, North
Carolina; his stepdaughter, Alandra Warner and her husband John
Warner of Mooresville, North Carolina; his stepson, Ryan Stamm and
his wife Louisa Stamm of Cornelius, North Carolina; his brother,
Ben Kinnard of Wood River, Illinois; his sister, Emma Robison of
Palm Bay, Florida; his sister Lona Hayes and her husband Pete Hayes
of Milton; the Governor; the President of the Senate; the Speaker
of the House of Delegates; Senator Erik Wells; Keith Gwinn,
Director of the Division of Veterans Affairs; and James Spears,
Secretary of Military Affairs and Public Safety.