SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 39

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

Requesting the Division of Highways to name the stretch of road beginning at U. S. Route 119 at Julian, Boone County, going one mile, one-half mile on each side of the exit to Julian, the “Army Sgt. Andy Messer Memorial Highway”.

    Whereas, Mark Andrew “Andy” Messer was born on January 4, 1965, in Charleston, Kanawha County, to Mark Andrew “Andy” Messer. He passed away at his home in Julian, Boone County, on March 18, 2013. After graduating from Scott High School, where he played football, Andy enrolled in the Army. He served in the military for more than ten years, including a life-altering, front-line tour in the Middle East during Desert Storm. Andy was a member of the 5th Special Forces Group and the 101st Airborne (Green Berets). He was a highly decorated combat veteran. He was stationed at Fort Leonardwood in Missouri, Fort Lewis in Washington and Fort Campbell in Kentucky. He fought in Honduras, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. He trained with the Egyptian Special Forces. He received the Army Service Ribbon, Army Lapel Button, Sharpshooter Qualification Badge (M16 Rifle), Driver’s Badge, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Achievement Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Driver Mechanic Badge, Mechanic Badge, Southwest Asia Service Medal and Saudi Arabia/Kuwait Liberation Medal. Andy returned home to Boone County after he received a medical discharge because of injuries sustained during Desert Storm, including post-traumatic stress disorder. He was a VFW member; and

    Whereas, Mark Andrew “Andy” Messer is survived by his sons, Elijah Messer, of Sharples, Justin Green, of Killeen, Texas, and Gage and Dane Messer, both of Madison; his grandchildren, Kadence and Gunnar Green, of Killeen, Texas; his daughter-in-law, Nelle Green, of Killeen, Texas; his father, Mark Andrew “Andy” Messer, of Haddalton; his brothers, David and Jacob Messer, both of Haddalton; his sisters-in-law, Tonya and Amanda Messer, both of Haddalton; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces and friends. Andy was preceded in death by his grandparents, Carl and Lorraine Messer and William “Squirrelly” and Letha Fankhauser; and

    Whereas, The sacrifices Mark Andrew “Andy” Messer made for his country and the contributions he made to his state and community are representative of the highest levels of honor and courage and should not go unnoticed. Naming that stretch of road beginning at U. S. Route 119 at Julian, Boone County, going one mile, one-half mile on each side of the exit to Julian, the “Army Sgt. Andy Messer Memorial Highway” is an appropriate recognition of his 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 the stretch of road beginning at U. S. Route 119 at Julian, Boone County, going one mile, one-half mile on each side of the exit to Julian, the “Army Sgt. Andy Messer 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 U. S. Route 119 at Julian, Boone County, going one mile, one-half mile on each side of the exit to Julian, the “Army Sgt. Andy Messer 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 Army Sgt. Andy Messer.