SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 9

(By Senators Weld, Ihlenfeld, Stollings, Smith, and Romano)

[Introduced January 23, 2020]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 05-2/2-0.35 (05A071), locally known as Zeidler Bridge, carrying CR 2/2 over Short Creek in Brooke County, the “U.S. Army SSG Nick P. Markos Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Nick P. Markos was born on May 9, 1923, the child of Paul S. Markos and Diamanto Markos of Short Creek, West Virginia. He had three siblings: Manuel, Stella, and Goldie; and

Whereas, Nick P. Markos attended school in Brooke County, West Virginia, at Beech Bottom Elementary and Junior High, and graduated from Wellsburg High School in 1941. Following high school, he worked at Markos Grocery Store while attending West Virginia University. During his fourth semester of college, he left school to enlist in the United States Army; and

Whereas, SSG Nick P. Markos entered the active service on May 12, 1943, and he became a member of the Company I, 242nd Infantry, which was known as the 42nd Rainbow Division. His unit arrived in France on December 8, 1944, and participated in G033WD45: Rhineland Central Europe. SSG Nick P. Markos fought on the front lines until his unit commander was notified of his brother Manuel’s death in Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945. After leaving Europe, he arrived in Fort George Meade, Maryland, and was honorably discharged on April 4, 1946; and

Whereas, SSG Nick P. Markos attained the following military qualifications: Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert M-3 SMG, Expert Rifle M-1, and Expert M-1 Carbine; and

Whereas, For his service, SSG Nick P. Markos received the Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon, European-African-Middle Eastern Ribbon, and World War II Victory Ribbon; and

Whereas, After returning home from the war, SSG Nick P. Markos worked in the family grocery store. Shortly thereafter, he went to the National School of Meat Cutting in Toledo, Ohio. After graduation, SSG Nick P. Markos worked for the Thorofare, Bi-rite, and Foodland supermarket chains as a professional meat cutter. In 1967, he was appointed the postmaster for Short Creek. He held that position until his retirement in 1990. In 1972, SSG Nick P. Markos founded Nick’s W-2 1099 Income Tax Service, and operated it until 2002; and

Whereas, In 1948, SSG Nick P. Markos married Gertrude Frey. They had three children: Manuel, Paul, and Deborah. All three children attended West Virginia colleges and obtained degrees in education; and 

Whereas, SSG Nick P. Markos played a part in establishing various little league sports programs within his community, including the NSS Town and Country Little League Baseball Organization with teams from Short Creek, Bethany, Windsor Heights, Hammond, West Liberty, Clinton, Warwood, and Park View. He later helped establish a pony league baseball and little league basketball; and

Whereas, SSG Nick P. Markos attended Saint John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church in Wheeling his entire life, and he and his family were deeply involved with the church; and

Whereas, SSG Nick P. Markos loved sports, and played baseball and basketball in his youth.  As an adult, he regularly participated in bowling and golf; and 

Whereas, Staff Sergeant Markos passed on July 17, 2002; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate U.S. Army SSG Nick P. Markos and his contributions to our 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 05-2/2-0.35 (05A071), known as Zeidler Bridge, carrying CR 2/2 over Short Creek in Brooke County, the “U.S. Army SSG Nick P. Markos 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 SSG Nick P. Markos 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.