HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 78

(By Delegates Moye, Bates, Arvon, Ellington, Love, O’Neal, Kessinger, Shott and Cooper)

[Introduced March 9, 2017]

Requesting the Division of Highways to name the Bridge Number 41-16-14.36 (PipeBridge) (37.74369, -81.22630), locally known as Crab Orchard Creek Pipe, carrying WV 16 over Crab Orchard Creek in Raleigh County as the “Almond Brothers and Family Veterans Bridge.”

Whereas, John William Almond, Levi Garfield “Al” Almond, Richard Ray Almond, Frederick Lee Almond, Robert Loren “Jack” Almond and Gerald Ross Almond were brothers from Raleigh County, the sons of Levi and Jennie Almond; and

Whereas, All six Almond brothers served in the U.S. Armed Forces; and

Whereas, John W. Almond served in the Navy from October 1943 through February 1946; and

Whereas, Levi G. Almond served in the Navy from July 1941 through October 1945; and

Whereas, Richard R. Almond served in the Army/Air Force from February 1946 through December 1947; and

Whereas, Frederick L. Almond served in the Air Force from November 1947 through January 1959 and in the National Guard from January 1959 through March 1986; and

Whereas, Robert L. Almond served in the United States Army from January 1949 through June 1952 during the Korean War and then reenlisted in the Navy from January 1955 through July 1972; and

Whereas, Gerald R. Almond served in the Air Force from June 1952 through February 1959 and was killed while piloting a jet; and

Whereas, Service to country is a family tradition for the Almond brothers, their three sons and other family members serving in various branches of the Armed Services; and

Whereas, It is fitting to honor John William Almond, Levi Garfield “Al” Almond, Richard Ray Almond, Frederick Lee Almond, Robert Loren “Jack” Almond and Gerald Ross Almond for their service to their community, their state and their country by naming the bridge near MacArthur in Raleigh County on WV State Route 16 where it crosses Whitestick Creek as the “Almond Brothers and Family Veterans Bridge”; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways to name the Bridge Number 41-16-14.36 (PipeBridge) (37.74369, -81.22630), locally known as Crab Orchard Creek Pipe, carrying WV 16 over Crab Orchard Creek in Raleigh County as the “Almond Brothers and Family Veterans Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge, both east bound and west bound, as the “Almond Brothers and Family Veterans 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.