Committee Substitute

for

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 45

(By Senators Romano, Facemire, Jeffries, and Prezioso)

[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; Reported March 5, 2019]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 17A103, locally known as the Joyce Street Bridge, carrying Joyce Street over Highway U.S. 50 in Harrison County, the “U.S. Army Corporal T-5 Albert John “Engine” Arco Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, This year being the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landing in Europe and the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, it is appropriate and required to honor United States Army Corporal T-5 Albert John “Engine” Arco, who served his country proudly during WW II; and

Whereas, Albert John “Engine” Arco was a 19-year old enlistee in the U.S. Army when, on June 6, 1944, he jumped, in full gear, from an amphibious landing craft into the sea during the Normandy landing, where the waters were covered with the bloodied bodies of his comrades. He miraculously survived the D-Day landing, during which so many of his comrades were killed, and joined the fight as a heavy machine gunner in a tank destroyer battalion, which led the battle to liberate Sainte-Mère-Église, Carentan, Saint Lô, and other French towns as they rolled toward Paris. He has described the intensity of the battle of Saint Lô, where the sky was dark during the day as a result of American aircraft, and the hail of shrapnel from German anti-aircraft guns, the latter of which killed his captain, who was standing next to him; and

Whereas, Albert John “Engine” Arco's battalion was instrumental in the liberation of Paris, then humbly adjourned to a nearby park with all other Americans so French General Charles de Gaulle could proudly march into Paris with his troops and declare victory over German troops for the French people.  His battalion joined with the Third Army and its commander, General George S. Patton, whom Arco described as, “. . . blood and guts, for sure”, because of the general’s aggressive battle tactics, which caused Arco to wear the same uniform 10 straight months. Albert John “Engine” Arco fought in the Battle of the Bulge, manning a 50-caliber machine gun when the Third Army and General Patton punched through German lines to relieve the American defenders of Bastogne, Belgium, commanded by General Anthony Clement “Nuts” McAuliffe, also a West Virginia native. He told the Veterans History Project that he had many more memories of his service during WWII, most of which were too traumatic to share; and

Whereas, Albert John “Engine” Arco was a lifelong resident of Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia, a graduate of Washington Irving High School, and the retired owner of a Clarksburg landmark, the Red Caboose restaurant, for over 50 years. He always celebrated the D-Day landing each year at the Red Caboose and remained a loyal and active member of VFW Post 573 and American Legion Post 13 until his death on September 14, 2018; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate Corporal T-5 Albert John “Engine” Arco 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 17A103, locally known as the Joyce Street Bridge, carrying Joyce Street over Highway U.S. 50 in Harrison County, the “U.S. Army Corporal T-5 Albert John “Engine” Arco 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 “U.S. Army Corporal T-5 Albert John “Engine” Arco Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.