HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 28

(By Delegate Barker)

Requesting the Division of Highways to name a segment of US Route 26 in Boone County from Van, West Virginia, to Twilight, West Virginia, as the “William Chapman “Chap” Cook and Civil War Veterans Memorial Highway”.

    Whereas, William Chapman “Chap” Cook was born on December 14, 1840, in Boone County, Virginia, now, West Virginia, and returned to be buried on Cook Mountain in Boone County following his death on July 14, 1914, in Bald Knob, West Virginia; and

    Whereas, William Chapman “Chap” Cook enlisted as a Union soldier on December 19, 1861, becoming a member, initially, of the Eighth West Virginia Mounted Infantry that, on January 26, 1864, became the Seventh West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry in which William Chapman “Chap” Cook served in Company C; and

    Whereas, William Chapman “Chap” Cook, along with 1200 other brave, West Virginians, served the Union as the Seventh West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry for four years of duty, during which time, four hundred seventy-four men died in battle, from mortal wounds or disease; and

    Whereas, It is fitting to honor William Chapman “Chap” Cook, along with all other Union soldiers, who so freely and voluntarily risked and lost their lives in service of the State and the Union; and

    Whereas, The community of Boone County, West Virginia, has voiced its heartfelt desire to commemorate William Chapman “Chap” Cook and all other Union soldiers from Boone County and the State of West Virginia, by the presentation of a multiple page Petition to one of its representatives; and

    Whereas, The naming of a small segment of road in honor of William Chapman “Chap” Cook and all other West Virginian Union soldiers, is but a small gesture of gratitude for the sacrifices made by these men and suffered by their families in order to build a greater State and Nation; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways to name the segment of road on US 26 between Van, West Virginia, and Twilight, West Virginia, as the “William Chapman “Chap” Cook and Civil War Veterans Memorial Highway”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the segment of road, on both ends, as the “William Chapman “Chap” Cook and Civil War Veterans Memorial Highway”; and be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and to descendent’s of William Chapman “Chap” Cook who include seventh generation granddaughter, Mae Stringer; seventh generation grandsons, Leo Cook and Denver Cook; eighth generation granddaughters, Nada White, Deloris Gibson, Hazel Asbury, Vickie Stewart, Patricia Cook and Amanda Collins; and eighth generation grandsons, Danny Ray Cook, Steven Cook and Chester Cook.