SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 37

(By Senators Kirkendoll, Stollings, Unger, Jenkins and Cole)

Requesting the Division of Highways to name a stretch of road beginning at Route 10 and the Logan and Lincoln county line, going one mile into Logan, the “Lance Corporal Larry G. Williamson Memorial Highway”.

    Whereas, Lance Corporal Larry G. Williamson was born on February 9, 1947, in Lincoln County to John B. and Georgia Napier Williamson. He had three sisters, Patty Egnor, Peggy Perry (deceased) and Robin Williamson. Larry attended Harts High School, played varsity basketball, was on the school newspaper and was secretary/treasurer of his senior class. He graduated in 1964 and attended Marshall University’s Logan branch for two years. On September 9, 1967, at the age of twenty, Larry married Wanda Brumfield and moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he became manager of car parts and tires at a Firestone Automotive Center; and

    Whereas, In January, 1969, Larry was drafted from West Virginia. While on a bus taking him for Army training, he was among the draftees separated and reassigned to the Marines. He received basic training at Camp Pendleton, California, and after a brief visit home was ordered to Vietnam and assigned to the 5th Marine Division. He soon received a promotion to Lance Corporal. In Vietnam, Larry was assigned as a squad leader in the First Platoon of Company G. On March 11, 1970, the squad was acting as a blocking force and was located approximately two miles northeast of An Hoa Combat Base in Quang Nam Province. Lance Corporal Larry G. Williamson was killed when a well-concealed explosive device detonated. A squad corpsman rushed to his aid but death had been instantaneous. Lance Corporal Larry G. Williamson received a Purple Heart, Rifle Sharpshooter, National Defense, Republic of Vietnam Service, Chien Dich Vietnam Medal and Boi-Tinh 1960 Medals; and

    Whereas, Lance Corporal Larry G. Williamson made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and in doing so represented West Virginia and his country with the highest levels of honor and courage and his sacrifice should not go unnoticed. Naming that stretch of road in Logan County the “Lance Corporal Larry G. Williamson Memorial Highway” is an appropriate recognition of his ultimate sacrifice for state and country; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name that one mile stretch of road beginning at Route 10 and the Logan and Lincoln county line, going one mile into Logan, the “Lance Corporal Larry G. Williamson Memorial Highway”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both ends of the one-mile stretch of road beginning at Route 10 and the Logan and Lincoln county line, going one mile into Logan, containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the stretch of road the “Lance Corporal Larry G. Williamson Memorial Highway”; 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 family of Lance Corporal Larry G. Williamson.