HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 15

(By Delegates Westfall, Pinson, Wamsley, and Booth)

[Introduced January 17, 2022]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 18-331/00-003.99 (18A126), locally known as Cottageville Arch (SCDA), carrying WV 331 over Mill Creek in Jackson county the “Thomas Brothers Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Mr. and Mrs. A.H. Thomas lived in Mt. Alto, West Virginia. The Thomas’s had 3 sons: Marion, born on May 24,1927, James, born on September 27, 1931, and Alvin, born on November 19, 1933. 

Whereas, Following the start of the Korean War, each of the three brothers enlisted in the United States armed forces. By 1950, all three brothers were enlisted at ages 23, 19, and 17, respectively.  Marion Thomas, who had served 31 months in the Navy during World War II, began serving in the Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Marion was subsequently deployed to Korea and served on the front lines. James served with the Army Air Force and was stationed at Kelly Field in Texas prior to being deployed to Korea. The youngest brother, Alvin, was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky; and

Whereas, The three brothers were believed to be the first family in the county in the Korean War to have three brothers in uniform; and

Whereas, The Thomas brothers returned from service after the war; and 

Whereas, Marion Thomas died on January 22, 1985, James Thomas died on November 24, 2012, and Alvin died on November 18, 2017; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate the Thomas Brothers and their contributions 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 18-331/00-003.99 (18A126), locally known as Cottageville Arch (SCDA), carrying WV 331 over Mill Creek in Jackson county the “Thomas Brothers 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 “Thomas Brothers Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.