HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 44
(By Delegates Eldridge, Butcher, Hrutkay and Barker)
Requesting the Division of Highways to name the truss bridge at
Midkiff, Lincoln County, the "Sanders Brothers Veterans
Bridge."
Whereas, The brothers, Wetzel Sanders and Howard Sanders, are
lifelong residents of Midkiff, Lincoln County, and represent the
patriotic spirit of all the citizens of Lincoln County who have
unselfishly and bravely served this country in the armed services
in the time of war; and
Whereas, Wetzel Sanders was born July 25, 1923, in Midkiff, and
is the only Pearl Harbor survivor in Lincoln County; and
Whereas, Wetzel Sanders served in both the United States Army
and Marine Corps, including action in combat in Pearl Harbor, the
Fiji Islands, Guadalcanal and Bougainville. He was awarded the
American Defense Medal with three bronze battle stars and the World
War II Victory Medal; and
Whereas, Wetzel Sanders is a member of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, the American Legion and a Member of the Pearl Harbor
Survivors Unit. He was instrumental in the renaming of I-77 north
of Charleston, West Virginia the "Pearl Harbor Survivor Highway." He attended the 60
th Pearl Harbor Reunion in Hawaii in 2000. He
retired from the West Virginia Division of Highways and is
currently transporting passengers for Tri River Transit at the age
of 82. He is Married to Kathleen; and
Whereas, Howard Sanders served in the United States Navy during
World War II and fought in battles in Saipan, Guam, Palau, Titan
and Leyte Gulf; and
Whereas, Howard Sanders was stationed on the Aircraft Carrier
U.S.S. Kalinin Bay CVE 68. He received the American Area Ribbon,
the Presidential Unit Badge, the Philippine Liberation with one
battle star medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Ribbon, the Victory
Medal, World War II medal, Philippine Republic Presidential
Citation Badge. He is a retired businessman who still resides in
Midkiff with his wife, Aileen; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the
truss bridge at Midkiff, Lincoln County, West Virginia, the
"Sanders Brothers Veterans Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of
Highways is hereby requested to cause to be manufactured
appropriate signs with the prominent display of the words "Sanders
Brothers Veterans Bridge" and to erect the sign at either end of
the truss bridge at Midkiff, Lincoln County, West Virginia; 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 to the brothers, Wetzel Sanders and
Howard Sanders.