SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 22

(By Senators Cookman, Plymale and Blair)

Requesting the Division of Highways to name the I-81 Exit 23 overpass in DOH District 5 the “Deputy John L. Burkett III Memorial Overpass”.

    Whereas, John L. Burkett III of Falling Waters, Berkeley County, West Virginia, was born in 1973, the son of John and Jackie Burkett; and

    Whereas, John L. Burkett III was a one-year veteran of the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department on January 31, 2001, when he was assigned to extradite a felon from Pennsylvania back to Berkeley County for adjudication on West Virginia charges; and

    Whereas, While carrying out his assignment, Deputy John L. Burkett III was struck head on by an impaired driver going northbound in the southbound lane; and

    Whereas, Deputy John L. Burkett III was immediately killed as a result of this collision, leaving behind his parents and host of family and friends, all of whom miss him sorely; and

    Whereas, Deputy Burkett was survived by his mother and father, who he resided with at the time of his death; and

    Whereas, It is fitting and proper to honor Deputy John L. Burkett III and his family for his service to his community and state by naming this overpass in his memory as an everlasting tribute to his sacrifice; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the I-81 Exit 23 overpass in DOH District 5, the “Deputy John L. Burkett III Memorial Overpass”; 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 “Deputy John L. Burkett III Memorial Overpass”; 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.