HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 78

(By Delegate P. Martin)

[Introduced February 11, 2020]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 21-N1670-0.09 (21A910), locally known as 4th Street Beam Bridge, carrying West 4th Street over Polk Creek in Lewis County, the “U. S. Army Air Corps PVT Thomas M. Wright Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, PVT Wright was born in Lewis County West Virginia on January 15, 1920, to Wilbur Leslie Wright and Albina Phillips Wright; and

Whereas, PVT Wright enlisted in the Army Air Corps at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio, on July 21, 1941; and

Whereas, PVT Wright was assigned to the 18th Squadron, 17th Air Base Group, at Hickam Field in Hawaii on the island of Oahu; and

Whereas, PVT Wright was one of more than 2,400 souls to be lost on December 7, 1941 due to the attacks on Pearl Harbor and PVT Wright was the first casualty from Lewis County, W.Va. to be lost during World War II; and

Whereas, PVT Wright received, posthumously, the Purple Heart to commemorate his service to his country and state; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate PVT Thomas M. Wright 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 21-N1670-0.09 (21A910), locally known as 4th Street Beam Bridge, carrying West 4th Street over Polk Creek in Lewis County, the “U. S. Army Air Corps PVT Thomas M. Wright 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 Air Corps PVT Thomas M. Wright Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

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