HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 51

(By Delegate Pethtel)

February 11, 2016

Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 52-64-2.07 (52A135) (39-63045, -80.47918), locally known as Smith Bridge, carrying County Route 64 over Long Drain in Wetzel County, the “U.S. Army PFC Danny Mire Stoneking Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Danny Mire Stoneking was born in Wetzel County, West Virginia, August 13, 1948; and

Whereas, Danny Mire Stoneking attended schools in Wetzel County, growing up in an area known as Glovers Gap, near the community of Earnshaw, West Virginia with a brother, Michael Lee Stoneking, and two sisters, Glenda Joyce Stoneking Hicks and Cleta Lynn Stoneking Blair; and

Whereas, Danny Mire Stoneking enjoyed hunting and fishing in the area near his home; and

Whereas, Danny Mire Stoneking became a soldier in the United States Army, and was deployed to Vietnam; and

Whereas, PFC Danny Mire Stoneking served in A Company, First Battalion, 20^th Infantry, 11^th Infantry Brigade in the Army’s Americal Division; and

Whereas, PFC Danny Mire Stoneking died the second day of March, 1968, at the age of nineteen, as a result of a wound received from an enemy mine, in action in Quang Ngai Province of Vietnam, while on a special mission for which he had volunteered; and

Whereas, For his brave service to his country, PFC Danny Mire Stoneking was awarded the Bronze Star, for meritorious service in connection with military operations against a hostile force; and

Whereas, PFC Danny Mire Stoneking was also awarded the Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service and Vietnam Campaign medals, as well as the Combat Infantry Badge; and

Whereas, PFC Danny Mire Stoneking is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Panel 42E, Row 42; and

Whereas, As a boy, PFC Danny Mire Stoneking played near his home on an old stone bridge which ran over a small creek, and skipped rocks and fished with his cousins and other family members and friends, from the upper base of the bridge; and

Whereas, PFC Danny Mire Stoneking is buried beside his father, John Lee Stoneking, in the Stoneking family cemetery, just a mile from the old stone bridge; and

Whereas, PFC Danny Mire Stoneking’s relatives and friends continue to live in the area and continue to speak of him today; and

Whereas, PFC Danny Mire Stoneking’s mother, Lillian Jessie Stoneking, celebrated her 86^th birthday in January of 2016; and

Whereas, It is fitting that PFC Danny Mire Stoneking be honored by a memorial in the area where he lived as a child; and

Whereas, The old stone bridge on which PFC Danny Mire Stoneking played as he grew up, has been repaired in recent years and is still in use by his family and friends; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 52-64-2.07 (52A135) (39-63045, -80.47918), locally known as Smith Bridge, carrying County Route 64 over Long Drain in Wetzel County, the “U.S. Army PFC Danny Mire Stoneking Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both ends of the bridge containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the bridge the “U.S. Army PFC Danny Mire Stoneking Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

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