HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 73

(By Delegates  Evans R. Thompson, Rodighiero, Zukoff, Williams, Pyles, Robinson, Doyle, Hornbuckle, S. Brown and Swartzmiller)

[Introduced February 18, 2019]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 24-161-14.11 (24A189), locally known as Blackwolf Bridge, carrying WV 161 over the Tug Fork in McDowell County, the “U. S. Army SGT Matthew T. Miller Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Matthew Thomas Miller was a resident of Anawalt, West Virginia, in McDowell County, and a 2007 graduate of Mount View High School; and

Whereas, Soon after graduation, Matthew Thomas Miller joined the United States Army and rose to the rank of Sergeant of the 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 187 Regiment “Rakkasans”, 101 Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and

Whereas, SGT Matthew Thomas Miller was deployed to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom; and

Whereas, SGT Matthew Thomas Miller, a highly trained warrior, was a combat infantryman and paratrooper trained also as a driver and mechanic; and

Whereas, SGT Matthew Thomas Miller was awarded Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Expert Marksmanship Badge with Carbine Bar; and

Whereas, After being discharged from the U. S. Army, SGT Matthew Thomas Miller suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a challenge that he worked every day to overcome.  Mathews lost his battle with PTSD and his life on January 22, 2018; and

Whereas, SGT Matthew Thomas Miller was a well-loved member of his community; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 24-161-14.11 (24A189), locally known as Blackwolf Bridge, carrying WV 161 over the Tug Fork in McDowell County, the “U. S. Army SGT Matthew T. Miller Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both ends of the bridge containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the bridge as the “U. S. Army SGT Matthew T. Miller Memorial Bridge”; 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.