SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 48

(By Senators Carmichael (Mr. President), Plymale, and Stollings)

[Introduced March 3, 2018]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 20-77-130.80, NB and SB, (18A157, 18A156), carrying Interstate 77 over County Route 21/28, locally known as CR 21/28 Overpass Bridge in Jackson County, the “U. S. Army MSG Monty Ray Skeen, Sr., Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, MSG Monty Ray Skeen, Sr., was born on June 23, 1957, the son of Barbara Jean Scott and Charles Wayne Skeen; and

Whereas, MSG Monty Ray Skeen, Sr., married Regina Mae Skeen and had two children: Monty Ray Skeen, Jr and Shery Ann Zimmermann, and lived in Jackson County; and

Whereas, MSG Monty Ray Skeen, Sr., joined the U. S. Army in 1976 and began serving his country. He attained the rank of Master Sergeant after 20 years of service, including Desert Storm and the Gulf War. While serving, he was awarded the following medals: Two Meritorious Service Medals; four Army Commendation Medals, Southwest Asia Service Medal; three Overseas Service Ribbon, Expert Badge M-16 Rifle; and many others; and

Whereas, In 1997, MSG Monty Ray Skeen, Sr., retired from the Army and worked as a shift supervisor for Rite Aid Distribution Center in Poca, West Virginia, where he worked for 20 years; and

Whereas, MSG Monty Ray Skeen, Sr., passed away suddenly due to onset complications of acute myeloid leukemia on November 4, 2016, at Charleston Area Medical Center, Memorial Hospital; and his family still misses him immensely; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate MSG Monty Ray Skeen’s service to his 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 20-77-130.80, NB and SB, (18A157, 18A156), carrying Interstate 77 over County Route 21/28, locally known as CR 21/28 Overpass Bridge in Jackson County, the “U. S. Army MSG Monty Ray Skeen, Sr., 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 MSG Monty Ray Skeen, Sr., 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.