HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 25

(By Delegate Border, Ambler, Anderson, Arvon, Azinger, Blair, Cadle, Canterbury, Cooper, Espinosa, Evans, D., Faircloth, Gearheart, Hamrick, Hanshaw, Hill, Howell, Ihle, Kelly, Kessinger, Miller, Moffatt, Phillips, L., Romine, Rowan, Stansbury, Statler, Walters and Zatezalo)

Requesting the Division of Highways to name the bridge on Route 14, bridge number 53-14-9.61, in Wirt County, known as Moorehead Bridge, the "US Army PFC Jessica Dawn Lynch Bridge".

            Whereas, US Army Private First Class Jessica Dawn Lynch ,then a 19-year-old supply clerk with the 507th Maintenance Company (based in Fort Bliss, Texas), was injured and captured by Iraqi forces after her group made a wrong turn and was subsequently ambushed on March 23, 2003 near Nasiriyah, a major crossing point over the Euphrates River northwest of Basra. She was initially listed as missing in action (MIA). Eleven other soldiers in the company were killed in the ambush; and

            Whereas, US Army Private First Class Jessica Dawn Lynch was a prisoner of war of the Iraqi military in the 2003 invasion of Iraq who was rescued by United States forces on April 1, 2003. It was the first successful rescue of an American POW since World War II and the first ever of a woman soldier; and

            Whereas, On April 12, 2003, US Army Private First Class Jessica Dawn Lynch was flown to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center to undergo specialized treatment and rehabilitation. On April 17,2003 she underwent surgery to repair a bone in her right foot; and

            Whereas, While recovering in Washington, US Army Private First Class Jessica Dawn Lynch was inundated with gifts and flowers from well wishers, so much so that she asked the public to send cards instead. Her family suggested that the public send monetary gifts to charity and relief organizations; and

            Whereas, US Army Private First Class Jessica Dawn Lynch was released from the hospital on July 22, 2003, more than three months after her injury, and, on August 27, 2003, she was given an honorable discharge; and

            Whereas, US Army Private First Class Jessica Dawn Lynch was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Prisoner of War Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Army Service Ribbon; and

            Whereas, On December 16, 2011 US Army Private First Class Jessica Dawn Lynch received her education degree from West Virginia University at Parkersburg, after completing her student-teacher training at the same elementary school she had attended in Wirt County; and

            Whereas, It is only fitting that we name this bridge to honor US Army Private First Class Jessica Dawn Lynch; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the West Virginia Legislature:

            That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways to name the bridge on Route 14, bridge number 53-14-9.61, known as Moorehead Bridge, in Wirt County the "US Army PFC Jessica Dawn Lynch 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 "US Army PFC Jessica Dawn Lynch Bridge"; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and US Army Private First Class Jessica Dawn Lynch.