HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 80

(By C. Martin and P. Martin)

[Introduced February 12, 2020]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number: 21-017/00-001.57 (21A047), (38.96916, -80.64882), locally known as Copley Bridge, carrying CR 17 over Cove Lick in Lewis County, the “U. S. Army Major Michael Alphonse Rafferty Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Michael Alphonse Rafferty was born December 24, 1903, in Lewis County, West Virginia, to William and Mary Cummings; and Michael Rafferty was the fourth of eight children, his siblings consisting of four brothers (James T., Daniel T., William, and Bernard J.) and three sisters (Mary Irene, Bridget Regina, and Margaret C.). He graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Weston before pursuing his college work at West Virginia University, Duquesne University (Pittsburgh), and Rush Medical College (Chicago). Michael Rafferty received a degree in pharmaceutical chemistry from WVU in 1929 and taught biochemistry at the medical school from 1929 to 1941. During that time he also attended Rush Medical College, graduating in 1937. In 1941, Rafferty took a position in chemical and medical research at Miles Laboratories in Elkhart, Indiana.

Whereas, Michael Alphonse Rafferty enlisted in the service on June 2, 1942, as a captain in the Medical Corps. He was stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; Fort Custer, Michigan; and Fort Dix, New Jersey, where he was promoted to major on November 1, 1943, and assigned to the 15th General Hospital.  Major Rafferty was sent overseas to England in February 1944 and later served in France and at Liege, Belgium; and

Whereas, According to a 1945 news release from the public relations section of the hospital, the 15th General Hospital was the first U.S. hospital at Liege and served as an evacuation hospital for the First and Ninth Army battle casualties and had been occupied by the Germans until September 1944.  After the Germans were forced out, the city endured bombardments by more than 1,000 German V-1 and V-2 bombs until the end of World War II. One period of heavy bombing occurred in late November 1944. On November 24, 1944, the day Major Rafferty was killed, the hospital took a direct hit from a German bomb. The body of Maj. Michael Alphonse Rafferty was returned to the United States in 1949 and interred at Arlington National Cemetery on April 14; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate “U. S. Army Major Michael Alphonse Rafferty and his contributions to our state and country; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number: 21-017/00-001.57 (21A047), (38.96916, -80.64882) locally known as Copley Bridge, carrying CR 17 over Cove Lick in Lewis County, the “U. S. Army Major Michael Alphonse Rafferty 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 “U. S. Army Major Michael Alphonse Rafferty 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.