HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 10

(By Delegates Palumbo, Spencer, Wells, Guthrie,

Hatfield, Brown and Higgins)


Requesting the Division of Highways to name the Interstate 77 turnpike bridge crossing U.S. Route 61 near Turnpike Ford at Marmet the "Captain Larry F. Lucas Memorial Bridge."

Whereas, Captain Larry F. Lucas was a good, generous and honorable citizen born and raised in Marmet, West Virginia; and
Whereas, Captain Larry F. Lucas answered the call of duty and served his country faithfully, courageously and heroically in Vietnam; and
Whereas, Captain Larry F. Lucas distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on the twentieth of December, nineteen hundred sixty-six, while serving as the flight leader of two aircraft during a reconnaissance mission over hostile territory; and
Whereas, Captain Lucas led the team to a suspected truck park and marshaling area and made the first photographing pass over the target alone; and
Whereas, Captain Lucas's plane received hits from hostile fire, but he was able to fly out of the danger area; and
Whereas, Gradually, one engine became useless and instruments indicated a fire in the plane; and
Whereas, Although Captain Lucas triggered automatic fire extinguishers, the pilot of the wing aircraft reported that Lucas's fuselage was burning from the wing to the tail assembly; and
Whereas, Nevertheless, Captain Lucas proceeded calmly toward the nearest airfield, or at least toward friendly territory; and
Whereas, Suddenly, the instruments behind Captain Lucas began sparking and the cockpit filled with flame and smoke; and
Whereas, Captain Lucas fought to maintain altitude as the aircraft settled into a thirty-degree dive, and ordered his co- pilot to eject; and
Whereas, Moments after the co-pilot left the cockpit, the aircraft pitched into a ninety-degree dive and crashed; and
Whereas, Captain Lucas's gallantry in action, at the cost of his life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army; and
Whereas, Captain Lucas was posthumously awarded both the Air Medal (Second Oak Leaf Cluster) and the Silver Star; and
Whereas, It is a fitting and appropriate gesture to bestow a lasting memorial and tribute to honor this brave, honorable, selfless and patriotic native son, who gallantly went beyond the call of duty to save the life of his co-pilot - at the cost of his own - and to serve his country and his fellow citizens of Marmet, West Virginia; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the Interstate 77 turnpike bridge crossing U.S. Route 61 near Turnpike Ford at Marmet the "Captain Larry F. Lucas Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to cause to be fabricated signs to read in prominent lettering: "The Captain Larry F. Lucas Memorial Bridge," which signs shall be erected at each entrance of the bridge, indicating that the bridge has been so named; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates, forward a certified copy of this Resolution to Larry F. Lucas's surviving nephew, David A. Holmes, who resides at 111 Spanish Oak Drive, in Culloden, West Virginia, 25510, to the Secretary of Transportation and to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.