SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 18

(By Senators Stollings, Phillips, Jeffries, and Lindsay)

[Introduced January 24, 2022]

Requesting the Division of Highways name a portion of Rt. 17, Spruce River Rd., near Ramage, Boone County, beginning at point (37.9856” N) (-81.8223W), at the intersection of Secondary Rt. 20, Six Mile Rd. and Rt. 17, traveling south and ending at point (37.9794N) (-81.8079W) at the intersection with Bias Branch Rd., Secondary Rt. 119/5, traveling approximately 1.1 miles in Boone County, the “U.S. Army SSGT Fred E. Duty Memorial Highway”.

Whereas, Fred E. Duty was born November 4, 1922, in Ramage, Boone County, West Virginia, the only son to Hugh and Mary Bell Duty having two sisters, Nancy and Joyce. Fred grew up in Boone County, where he also found the love of his life and married Doris Burton Duty. Fred E. Duty graduated from Scott High School in Boone County, West Virginia, and attended Morris Harvey College in Charleston, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Fred E. Duty was inducted into the U.S. Army on January 5, 1943, and received basic combat training, US Army 12-week ordinance school, and 41C20 fire control artillery repairman training. SSGT Fred E. Duty was a member of the HQ Co 1134^th Engineers as a light truck driver for combat engineers and served in battles in Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe and was wounded in battle In Germany on March 27, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart, American Theater Service Ribbon, European Theater Service Ribbon, African Theater Service Ribbon, Middle Eastern Theater Service Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, and Good Conduct Medal; and

Whereas, Except for SSGT Fred E. Duty’s time serving his country in the military, he lived in Madison his entire life, attended vocational school, and became an electrician. This led to his employment as an electrician for 34 years in the coal mines of Armco Steel where he was a member of the United Mine Workers of America. SSGT Fred E. Duty was a loyal and faithful member of the Madison United Methodist Church where he served as a lay speaker, showing his faith, and leading by example. SSGT Fred E. Duty could regularly be seen quietly performing work for and supporting members of his community in various public service programs both organized and on his own merits. SSGT Fred E. Duty became a dedicated and long serving member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5578 in Madison, West Virginia. SSGT Fred E. Duty could always be seen serving his community with many activities of the VFW and performing the final rites to fallen comrades at their gravesides on a regular basis until he passed away on August 19, 2019, having served his fellow citizens for over 96 years; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate to his contributions to state, country, community, and Boone County; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name a portion of Rt. 17, Spruce River Rd., near Ramage, Boone County, beginning at point (37.9856” N) (-81.8223W), at the intersection of Secondary Rt. 20, Six Mile Rd. and West Virginia Rt. 17, traveling south and ending at point (37.9794N) (-81.8079W) at the intersection with Bias Branch Rd., Secondary Rt 119/5, traveling approximately 1.1 miles in Boone County, the “U.S. Army SSGT Fred E. Duty Memorial Highway”; 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 the road as the “U.S. Army SSGT Fred E. Duty Memorial Highway”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.