HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 54

(By Delegates Hott, Rowan, Fast, Howell, C. Martin, Dean, P. Martin, Toney, J. Jeffries, D. Kelly and Cadle)

[Introduced February 3, 2020]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 12-042/06-003.19 (12A128), locally known as Possum Hollow Bridge, carrying County Route 42/6 over North Fork Lunice Creek in Grant County, West Virginia, the “PFC Marvin K. “Sonny” Sherman Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Private First Class Marvin Kenneth “Sonny” Sherman was born on August 22, 1923, in Grant County, the son of Holmes Sherman and Vera Sherman of Arthur, West Virginia; and

Whereas, PFC Sherman was drafted into the service of the United States Army and left Grant County on August 4, 1944, for infantry training at Camp Atterbury, Indiana and Fort McClellan, Alabama. PFC Sherman last visited his parents in December 1944, after which he left for Camp Meade and was shipped to England after the first of the year; and

Whereas, PFC Sherman’s last letter received at home was written on April 11, 1945, and on April 25, 1945, he sent a money order to the American Red Cross for flowers for his mother for Mother’s Day, writing her a letter on April 26, 1945, that would never be mailed; and

Whereas, On April 26, 1945, at about 3:00 p.m., PFC Sherman was sent forward with a patrol to cross the Elbe River in Germany in a small boat. During the crossing, the boat in which he was riding capsized and PFC Sherman drowned before help could reach him; and

Whereas, PFC Sherman’s funeral service was held in the United Brethren Church, Lahmansville, West Virginia, Rev. F.A. Frazier officiating, with burial in the Lahmansville Cemetery, full military rites accorded by Grant Post No. 78, American Legion; and

Whereas, PFC Sherman was survived by his parents, Holmes Sherman and Vera Sherman, of Arthur, West Virginia, and two brothers, Boyd Sherman, who served as a Merchant Marine, and Clifton Sherman, who served in the Navy; and

Whereas, The sacrifice of this courageous son of Grant County, West Virginia, requires that we honor Private First Class Marvin Kenneth “Sonny” Sherman by ensuring that future generations are aware of his sacrifice; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 12-042/06-003.19 (12A128), locally known as Possum Hollow Bridge, carrying County Route 42/6 over North Fork Lunice Creek in Grant County, West Virginia, the “PFC Marvin K. “Sonny” Sherman Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs containing bold and prominent letters identifying the bridge as the “PFC Marvin K. “Sonny” Sherman Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of Transportation, Commissioner of the Division of Highways, and the family of PFC Marvin Kenneth Sherman.