Committee Substitute

for

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 22

(By Senators Woodrum and Deeds)

[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; reported February 13, 2024]

Requesting the Division of Highways name a portion of County Route 20, from 37.76953571727715, -80.89182448747788 to Cooper Hollow Road in Summers County, the "USMC Major Cornelius Burdette Memorial Road".

Whereas, Cornelius Louis “Lonzo” Burdette was born in Sandstone, in Summers County, on November 6, 1878; and

Whereas, Cornelius Burdette served in the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps, and the West Virginia National Guard, served in the Philippines and the Far East, and was a member of the Cuban Expeditionary Force, retiring with the rank of Major from the United States Marine Corps; and

Whereas, it was during Major Burdette's service as a rifle instructor in the West Virginia National Guard that he was selected as one of a six-man team of the National Rifle Association to compete in the fifth Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1912; and

Whereas, Major Burdette, firing a 1903 model Army Springfield rifle scored 288 of a possible 300 points and won the gold medal, and he was personally decorated by King Gustavus V of Sweden; and

Whereas, in 1908, Major Burdette was awarded the Distinguished Marksman Medal by the Marine Corps, its highest award for marksmanship; in 1953, Major Burdette was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by order of Governor Marland; and

Whereas, Major Burdette passed away at age 76 on April 30, 1955, in Charleston, West Virginia; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate Major Cornelius Burdette 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 a portion of County Route 20, from 37.76953571727715, -80.89182448747788 to Cooper Hollow Road, in Summers County, the " USMC Major Cornelius Burdette Memorial Road"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs at both ends identifying the portion of road as the "USMC Major Cornelius Burdette Memorial Road"; 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.