HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 48
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates R. M. Thompson,
Mahan, Susman and Sumner)
Requesting the Division of Highways to name the bridge located on
Route 19 between the Flat Top Post Office and Egeria Road
which crosses the West Virginia Turnpike, the "Mills/ Hatcher
Memorial Bridge."
Whereas, PFC Denzell Mills was born December 30, 1948 to James
Mills and Cleo (Walker) Mills of Egeria, West Virginia and had five
brothers, four of whom served in the military; and
Whereas, PFC Larry Hatcher was born September 12, 1946 to
Arland and Rachel (Walker) Hatcher of Egeria and had two brothers
and two sisters; and
Whereas, PFC Denzell Mills and PFC Larry Hatcher were the sons
of two Walker sisters and the grandsons of Ned & Della Walker, who
settled in the Egeria area in the early 1920's, and they were the
grandsons of Jake Walker, who settled in the Egeria area in the
1800's; and
Whereas, Denzell Mills joined the Army in April, 1967 and was
deployed to Vietnam in September, 1967; and
Whereas, Larry Hatcher joined the Army in October, 1964 and was
deployed to Vietnam in May, 1965; and
Whereas, While Denzell was in Vietnam, he earned a bronze star and purple heart before he was killed in action thirty-three days
after he arrived; and
Whereas, Denzell was found carrying a note that read: I've got
to walk this lonesome valley, I've got to walk it by myself, Nobody
else can walk it for me, I've got to walk it by myself; and
Whereas, After Larry pulled two tours of duty and requested a
third which was denied because you can only serve two, he told his
superiors that he did not want to come home until all his buddies
could go with him; and
Whereas, PFC Larry Hatcher passed away due to exposure to Agent
Orange on February 2, 1992; and
Whereas, These two dedicated cousins gave the ultimate
sacrifice for our State and for our Nation; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways
to name the bridge located on Route 19 between the Flat Top Post
Office and Egeria Road which crosses the West Virginia Turnpike,
the "PFC Mills/Hatcher Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is hereby
directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner
of the Division of Highways and to the families of Denzell Mills
and Larry Hatcher.
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