HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 56

(By Delegate Romine, A. Evans, Hartman, Campbell,

       Sponaugle and Pethtel)

Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 48-18-20.53, and known locally as the Jackson Bridge on Route 18 north of Middlebourne, Tyler County, as the “Army SSG Jesse Adam Ault Memorial Bridge.”

    Whereas, SSG Ault was born February 18, 1980 in Wheeling; and

    Whereas, SSG Ault enlisted in the Army with his best friend, Travis Russell, upon their graduation from Tyler Consolidated High School in 1998; and

    Whereas, Upon being honorably discharged from the Army, he joined the Virginia National Guard; and

    Whereas, During a tour in Iraq in 2004-2005 at Camp Anaconda, SSG Ault met his future wife, Betsy; and

    Whereas, SSG Ault and his wife together had two children, Jonathan Adam and Rachel, along with a stepson, Nathan Jennings; and

    Whereas, Betsy Ault was called up for another deployment to Iraq when Jonathan Adam was four months old; and

    Whereas, SSG Ault reenlisted in order to take his wife’s place so that she could raise the boys; and

    Whereas, Betsy Ault later learned she was pregnant with a little girl; and

    Whereas, SSG Ault was able to return from Iraq to attend the birth of his daughter and spend nine days with her; and

    Whereas, SSG Ault returned to Iraq and, sadly, was killed on April 9, 2008, as a result of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle while conducting convoy operations south of Baghdad; and

    Whereas, It is fitting to honor SSG Ault’s life and service by naming the Jackson Bridge on Route 18 in Tyler County; as the “Army SSG Jesse Adam Ault Memorial Bridge” therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways to name bridge number 48-18-20.53, locally known as the Jackson Bridge on Route 18 in Tyler County; as the “Army SSG Jesse Adam Ault 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 “Army SSG Jesse Adam Ault Memorial 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 SSG Ault’s surviving relatives.