HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 78

(By Delegates Robinson, Estep-Burton and Rowe)

[Introduced February 22, 2019]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 20-61/7-0.56 (20A185), locally known as Pratt Pony Truss, carrying County Route 61/7 over Paint Creek in Kanawha County, the “U. S. Air Force Amn Kenneth Wayne Hammar Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Kenneth Wayne Hammar was born on July 12, 1967, to John W. Hammar, Jr. and Linda Ramsey Hammar. He spent the beginning of his life living with his mother and paternal grandparents John W Hammar and Mary Ellen Hammar in Pratt, West Virginia while his father worked out-of-state. His family later moved to Handley, West Virginia.  He was christened at the Church of the Good Shepard in Hansford, West Virginia, where he later served as an acolyte. As a child, he enjoyed taking long walks with his grandmother across the bridge from Pratt to Hansford to visit family and friends.  He attended Pratt Elementary School, East Bank Middle School and East Bank High School, where he was a boxing champion; and

Whereas, Kenneth Wayne Hammar joined the United States Air Force in 1985. He was deployed to Turkey in 1986 and suffered a tragic accident that cost him his life; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate U. S. Air Force Amn Kenneth Wayne Hammar and his contributions to our state and country; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways name bridge number :20-61/7-0.56 (20A185), locally known as Pratt Pony Truss, carrying County Route 61/7 over Paint Creek in Kanawha County, the “U. S. Air Force Amn Kenneth Wayne Hammar Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That 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. Air Force Amn Kenneth Wayne Hammar Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

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