COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 34
By Delegate Miller
Originating in the Committee on Roads and Transportation
Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 06-25/11-0.01 (06A304) (38.35666, -82.12754) locally known as New Girl Scout Camp Bridge, carrying County Route 25/11 over Mud River in Cabell County, the “U.S. Marine Corps PFC Billy Joe Vickers Memorial Bridge”.
Whereas, Billy Joe Vickers, the son of Herman C. Vickers and Opal Vickers of Milton, West Virginia, was born March 24, 1947, the third of four sons born unto the couple; and
Whereas, Billy Joe Vickers graduated from Milton High School, married Linda Dillon, whom he had known since the seventh grade, and they had a daughter, Pammy. Both Pammy Vickers Mahon and Linda Dillon Vickers live in Barboursville, West Virginia; and
Whereas, Billy Jo Vickers enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve June 22, 1966, and was assigned later to active duty with Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, southwest of DaNang, Vietnam, arriving there February 10, 1968. While on a combat patrol April 8, 1968, along the bank of the Song Yen River, near the vicinity of La Chau hamlet in Hieu Duc District of Quang Nam Province, Private First Class Billy Joe Vickers and two fellow Marines were killed as a result of detonation of an antipersonnel mine; and
Whereas, Private First Class Billy Joe Vickers' two older brothers, Herman O'dell Vickers and Jimmy Lou Vickers, also served in the nation's military, Herman in the U.S. Navy and Jimmy in the U.S. Marine Corps; and
Whereas, Both older brothers currently live in Culloden, Cabell County, West Virginia; and
Whereas, Private First Class Billy Joe Vickers' younger brother, Danny Vickers, lives with his family at the home place where the four brothers all grew up; and
Whereas, The family home place is located at the end of the bridge hereby to be named for Private First Class Billy Joe Vickers; and
Whereas, Private First Class Billy Joe Vickers was interred in Brown Cemetery, Ball's Gap, Cabell County, West Virginia; and
Whereas, It is proper that Private First Class Billy Joe Vickers' service to and sacrifice for his country be remembered by this fitting memorial; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 06-25/11-0.01 (06A304) (38.35666, -82.12754) locally known as New Girl Scout Camp Bridge, carrying County Route 25/11 over Mud River in Cabell County, the “U.S. Marine Corps PFC Billy Joe Vickers Memorial Bridge”; and be it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of 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. Marine Corps PFC Billy Jo Vickers 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 and the immediate family.