HCR 108 Text

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 108
(By Delegate Paxton)

Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 20-60/14- 3.64 over the Coal River on Main Street in St. Albans, Kanawha County, the "Joseph Homer Lloyd Bridge."

Whereas, Joseph Homer Lloyd was born in Roane County on March 3, 1916, the son of Everett and Bertha Lloyd; and
Whereas, Joseph Homer Lloyd graduated from Clay High School in 1938 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1939; and
Whereas, When Joseph Homer Lloyd enlisted in the Army, he requested duty in Hawaii to "see the world," little knowing that he would soon be a participant in one of the momentous events in American history; and
Whereas, Joseph Homer Lloyd was stationed at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii when the Japanese launched their infamous attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941; and
Whereas, Joseph Homer Lloyd awoke that peaceful Sunday morning on December 7^th and was on his way to breakfast at the mess hall when the Japanese began bombing Hickam Air Force Base. The barracks where he had slept only minutes before were bombed and the mess hall where he was headed took a direct hit, leaving thirty-five people dead . But Joseph survived that fateful day at Hickam Field and went on to serve his country honorably in World War II ; and
Whereas, In 1942, Joseph Homer Lloyd attended Officers Candidate School and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army. He was then sent to Europe, where he served with the 14^th Armored Division throughout the remainder of the war; and
Whereas, While serving with the 14^th Armored Division, Joseph Homer Lloyd was awarded the Bronze Star for "heroic achievement" when his company was isolated by a German counterattack, and he additionally received a Purple Heart; and
Whereas, After the war, Joseph Homer Lloyd returned to West Virginia, where he and his beloved wife Mabel, eventually settled in Tornado, Kanawha County, and he worked at Union Carbide as a heavy equipment foreman until his retirement; and
Whereas, Joseph and Mabel have two daughters, Ramona, who currently resides in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, with her husband Tom, and Phyllis, who resides in Rock Branch with her husband, Richard. A son, Travis, is deceased. Joseph and Mabel also have eight grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren; and
Whereas, It is only fitting and proper that we acknowledge Joseph Homer Lloyd for his outstanding service to his country and for a life well-lived. Joseph came of age during the Great Depression, endured incredible hardships for his country in World War II, and then returned home to help build a modern post-war America - his life personifies the grit, determination and selfless contribution that led Tom Brokaw to name his generation the "Greatest Generation"; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways to name bridge number 20-60/14-3.64 over the Coal River on Main Street in St. Albans, Kanawha County, the "Joseph Homer Lloyd 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 "Joseph Homer Lloyd Bridge," with an additional designation that he is a Pearl Harbor survivor; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and to Joseph Homer Lloyd.

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