HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 4

(By Delegates Cooper, Rowan and Pack)

[Introduced January 15, 2019 ; Referred
to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure]

Requesting the Division of Highways name that portion of West Virginia Route 3 beginning at its intersection with Keenan Road and ending at Gap Mills in Monroe County, the “Gold Star Families Highway”.

Whereas, United States military service members don’t serve alone. In 2015, there was a reported total of 1,728,710 family members who served alongside their Active Duty service member. Of that number, there were 1,076,803 children and 641,639 spouses; and

Whereas, Starting in World War I, the families of U. S. soldiers and sailors often flew flags that had a blue star for each member of the family that was serving in the military. If one of them died in battle, the blue star was changed to a gold star. In August of 1947, the United States Congress authorized the military to present a gold star lapel pin to the family members of those killed in action. That first pin was a simple gold star on a purple background with a laurel wreath around the star. Another pin, a gold star with a gold background and four oak sprigs around the star, was authorized by Congress in 1973. It was awarded to the next of kin of service members who die during military service; and

Whereas, Now families who have had a family member killed in action are referred to as Gold Star Families; and

Whereas, It is fitting that a proper memorial be established for these West Virginia families who have had a member of their family die in their defense of their country and the State of West Virginia; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name that portion of West Virginia Route 3 beginning at its intersection with Keenan Road and ending at Gap Mills in Monroe County, the “Gold Star Families Highway”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying that portion of the highway as the “Gold Star Families Highway”; and, be it

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