HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 32
(By Delegates Eldridge, Anderson, Andes, Argento, Armstead,
Azinger, Barker, Blair, Boggs, Border, Brown, Butcher, Campbell,
Cann, Canterbury, Caputo, Craig, Crosier, Doyle, Ellem, Ennis,
Evans, Ferro, Fleischauer, Fragale, Frazier, Givens, Guthrie,
Hall, Hamilton, Hartman, Hatfield, Hunt, Hutchins, Iaquinta,
Ireland, Klempa, Kominar, Lane, Lawrence, Longstreth, Louisos,
Mahan, Manchin, Manypenny, Marshall, Martin, McGeehan, Michael,
Miley, C. Miller, J. Miller, Moore, Morgan, Moye, Overington,
Paxton, Perdue, Perry, Pethtel, Phillips, D. Poling, M. Poling,
Porter, Reynolds, Rodighiero, Romine, Ross, Rowan, Schadler,
Schoen, Shaver, Shook, Shott, Skaff, Smith, Sobonya, Spencer,
Staggers, Stephens, Stowers, Sumner, Susman, Swartzmiller, Tabb,
Talbott, Varner, Walker, Webster, Wells, White, Williams and
Wooton)
Requesting the Governor to create the "Mountaineer Freedom Medal"
which will be awarded to the families of soldiers killed
during hostile operations, to honor those gallant soldiers who
have fought and gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom in
the United States' war on terror.
Whereas, The fallen soldier Lance Corporal Juston Thacker and
his loving family are the inspiration and driving force behind the
creation of the "Mountaineer Freedom Medal"; and
Whereas, Lance Corporal Juston Thacker was killed in a fire
fight in Afghanistan on July 6, 2004; and
Whereas, The family of Juston Thacker feels it is important to
show our soldiers how much we truly care about them by creating the
"Mountaineer Freedom Medal" to honor all our men and women who so
valiantly serve our state and country by giving the ultimate
sacrifice; and
Whereas, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class, Brian McKinney, a friend
of Lance Corporal Juston Thacker, from Rock, West Virginia designed
the "Mountaineer Freedom Medal" using his own pain of losing
comrades in Afghanistan and Iraq as his emotional inspiration; and
Whereas, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Brian McKinney designed
the medal to include a kneeling soldier, with tears in his eyes and
an American Flag at his back, which represents that he knows what
he is fighting for; a funeral for a fallen soldier; and finally a
hill in the background, on the right side of which are graves of
fallen soldiers and on the left side of which are the souls of
those fallen soldier and at the center is a gate with light
brightly shining through the gate; and
Whereas, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Brian McKinney chose to
include the words "For those who gave all", to represent those who gave their all for our freedom and the West Virginia moto "Montani
Semper Liberi"; and
Whereas, The State of West Virginia has an excellent reputation
in the military and our men and women serve our state and country
with pride; and
Whereas, This is the states opportunity to recognize our fallen
heroes by presenting their families with the "Mountaineer Freedom
Medal"; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That the Governor of the State of West Virginia create the
"Mountaineer Freedom Medal" to honor our heroes who were killed
during hostile operations by awarding their families with the
medal; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Governor is hereby requested to
commission an artist to create a mold of Hospital Corpsman 3rd
Class Brian McKinney's drawing for us as the "Mountaineer Freedom
Medal"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor of West
Virginia, Sharon Bowling, mother of Lance Corporal Juston Thacker,
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Brian McKinney and Delegate Jeff
Eldridge.