Committee Substitute

for

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 18

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

[Originating in the Committee on Rules; Reported March 10, 2022]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number  03-020/00-002.94 (03A058), (37.9898,-81.852), locally known as SIXMILE CK BR NO 2.94, carrying CR 20 over Sixmile Creek in Boone County, as the “U.S. Army SSGT Fred E. Duty Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Fred E. Duty was born November 4, 1922, in Ramage, Boone County, West Virginia, the only son to Hugh and Mary Bell Duty. He had 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, SSGT 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 1134th 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 SSGT Fred E. Duty and his contributions to our 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 bridge number 03-020/00-002.94 (03A058), (37.9898,-81.852), locally known as SIXMILE CK BR NO 2.94, carrying CR 20 over Sixmile Creek in Boone County, as the “U.S. Army SSGT Fred E. Duty 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 SSGT Fred E. Duty Memorial Bridge”; 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.