COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 34

(By Senators Woelfel, Miller, Laird, Unger and Stollings)

[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 13-64-165.87 on Interstate 64 near Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, the “U. S. Army Air Corps LT William H. Corkrean, Jr., Memorial Bridge”.

            Whereas, William H. Corkrean, Jr., was born on June 7, 1922, in Ronceverte, Greenbrier County. He lived in Ronceverte and was educated in Greenbrier County schools. He joined the West Virginia National Guard at age 15 in 1939 with his fathers's permission. He was employed by the Hecht Co. before entering military service in 1941. In the military, he was a B-17 pilot assigned to 390th BG 570th BS. On May 11, 1944, while piloting the 42-31971 “Twenty-One or Bust” on his twenty-third mission, the aircraft was hit by flak and crashed at Gilz-Rijer, Belgium. It was reported that he remained with the plane until it crashed; and

            Whereas, William H. Corkrean, Jr., died defending the principals of freedom upon which his country, state and community were established; and

            Whereas, Naming bridge number 13-64-165.87 on Interstate 64 near Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, the “U. S. Army Air Corps LT William H. Corkrean, Jr., Memorial Bridge” is an appropriate recognition of his contributions and his supreme sacrifice to his country, state, community and Greenbrier County; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 13-64-165.87 on Interstate 64 near Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, the “U. S. Army Air Corps LT William H. Corkrean, Jr., Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “U. S. Army Air Corps LT William H. Corkrean, Jr., 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 Secretary of the Department of Transportation and the surviving relatives of William H. Corkrean, Jr.