HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 40

(By Delegates Mallow, DeVault, Longanacre, Smith, Jeffries, Howell, Kelly, Cooper, and Jennings )

[Introduced January 17, 2024; Referred
to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Rules]

Requesting the Division of Highways name a bridge bearing the Bridge Number: 25-033/02-000.55  () (25A077), (39.48162, -80.07274) locally known as REUBEN RUN BRIDGE, carrying CR 33/02 over REUBEN RUN in Marion County as the "USMC MSG Edward P. & MP Carl A. McCray Memorial Bridge".

Whereas, Edward Payson McCray was born in Fairmont, West Virginia on October 7, 1912; and

Whereas, On December 2, 1933, Edward Payson McCray enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and received training at Parris Island, South Carolina and Quantico, Virginia; and

Whereas, Edward Payson McCray was a member of the USMC Aviation Unit; and

Whereas, Edward Payson McCray, during his time in service, received the American Campaign Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Medal; and

Whereas, During the course of World War II, Edward Payson McCray was deployed to the Pacific arena as a crew member/navigator of a Marine Corps PBJ-1 (light bomber) aircraft; and

Whereas, On September 17, 1933, while operating in the Solomon Islands area of the Pacific, contact was lost with his aircraft during a night bombing run; and

Whereas, Edward Payson McCray was officially listed as Missing in Action ("MIA") until January 23, 1946, when he was declared Killed in Action ("KIA") unrecoverable; and

Whereas, Edward Payson McCray served as a Capitol Police Officer in Washington, D.C. prior to his entry into the Marine Corps; and

Whereas, Carl Anson McCray was born on September 20, 1898, in Fairmont, West Virginia; and

Whereas, In 1915, at the age of 17, Carl Anson McCray joined the National Guard and in 1916 was promoted to the rank of Corporal; and

Whereas, As the war in Europe progressed, Carl Anson McCray was deployed to the front in 1918 where he served with the 150^th Infantry of the United States Army; and

Whereas, As the war wound down, Carl Anson McCray last served as a Military Police Officer in Paris, France; and

Whereas, For his service, Carl Anson McCray was awarded the World War I victory medal, a World War I commemorative medal, and also received the French Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honor, France's highest award; and

Whereas, Carl Anson McCray resided on Reubens Run Road until his passing at the age of 102; and

Whereas, For these reasons it is fitting and proper that the bridge be named in honor of USMC MSG Edward P. & MP Carl A. McCray; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways name a bridge bearing the Bridge Number: 25-033/02-000.55  () (25A077), (39.48162, -80.07274) locally known as REUBEN RUN BRIDGE, carrying CR 33/02 over REUBEN RUN in Marion County as the "USMC MSG Edward P. & MP Carl A. McCray Memorial Bridge" and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is requested to erect signs at both ends of the bridge containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the bridge as the "USMC MSG Edward P. & MP Carl A. McCray Memorial Bridge"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.