HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 119
(By Delegates Armstead, Lane and Walters)
Requesting the Division of Highways to name Bridge No. 1009,
located on U.S. Route 119 at mile post 25.53 crossing Coopers
Creek, Big Chimney, Kanawha County the "Private First Class
Thomas Keith Coleman Memorial Bridge."
Whereas, Thomas Keith Coleman was born on December 7, 1948, in
Big Chimney, and reared and educated in Kanawha County, the son of
Marvin and Kathleen Coleman; and
Whereas, Thomas Keith Coleman graduated from Herbert Hoover
High School in 1966 where he excelled in academics, was an athlete
participating on the high school football team, wrestling team and
track team and was well liked and respected by all his classmates
as well as all the faculty; and
Whereas, Thomas Keith Coleman volunteered for service in the
United States Marine Corps Reserve after graduation from Herbert
Hoover High School, and eventually rose to the rank of Private
First Class, believing that he could serve his country best by
service in the Marine Corps and was proud to be a Marine; and
Whereas, Private First Class Thomas Keith Coleman was deployed
to South Vietnam in December of 1967; and
Whereas, Private First Class Thomas Keith Coleman was
tragically killed on January 27, 1968, in Quang Tri, South Vietnam,
from small arms fire and grenades, at the tender age of nineteen
years after only serving less than a year in the Marine Corps
Reserve; and
Whereas, Private First Class Coleman became the first son of
Big Chimney to make the ultimate sacrifice for his country during
the conflict in Vietnam earning the bronze star and purple heart
posthumously; and
Whereas, At the time of his passing Private First Class Coleman
was survived by his parents, Marvin and Kathleen Coleman, and
sisters Barbara Ravenscroft and Susan Coleman; and
Whereas, The ultimate sacrifice of this brave and courageous
son of Kanawha County, West Virginia, requires us to honor Private
First Class Coleman, by ensuring that future generations are aware
of his sacrifice in the cause of freedom; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways
to name Bridge No. 1009, located on U.S. Route 119 at mile post
25.53 crossing Coopers Creek, Big Chimney, Kanawha County the
"Private First Class Thomas Keith Coleman Memorial Bridge"; and, be
it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby
requested to have made and placed on the bridge, signs identifying it as the "Private First Class Thomas Keith Coleman Memorial
Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of
Transportation, the Commissioner of the Division of Highways, and
the family of Private First Class Thomas Keith Coleman.