HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 74

(By Delegates Thompson, Hicks, Rodighiero, R. Miller, Eldridge, Marcum, Lovejoy, Rohrbach, Miller, C. and Sobonya)

[Introduced February 13, 2018; Referred to the Committee on Roads and Transportation then Rules]

Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 50-64-2.67 EB & WB (50A208, 50A209), locally known as Hubbards Branch Bridges, carrying Interstate 64 (EB & WB) over County Route 5/1 in Wayne County, the “U. S. Army CPT Benjamin Ronk Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, U. S. Army Captain Benjamin Ronk, from Kenova, West Virginia, served 25 years in the United States Army, 8 years of which were spent as an enlisted man and 12 years commissioned as a Warrant Officer, during which time he flew medivac helicopters during two tours in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan; and

Whereas, Earlier in his military career, Captain Ronk served in the Joint Services at the White House Communications Agency; and

Whereas, Upon returning from overseas assignments, Captain Ronk was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with the 6^th Battalion, 101^st Aviation Regiment, where he continued his education. Later, Captain Ronk became a physician’s assistant and served on medical missions during the Ebola crisis in Liberia; and

Whereas, At the time of his death, Captain Ronk was the platoon physician assistant with the 86^th Combat Support Hospital and nearing retirement in March, 2016; and

Whereas, Captain Ronk brought the war back home with him and suffered from severe depression and the pain and agony of post-traumatic stress syndrome for years.  On December 26, 2015, he ended his life.  His death was found to be service related; and

Whereas, Captain Benjamin Ronk was a West Virginian who served his country throughout his adult life; and

Whereas, It is appropriate to honor the memory of Captain Ronk with a memorial in his home county; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

 That the Division of Highways is requested to name bridge number 50-64-2.67 EB & WB (50A208, 50A209), locally known as Hubbards Branch Bridges, carrying Interstate 64 (EB & WB) over County Route 5/1 in Wayne County, the “U. S. Army CPT Benjamin Ronk Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, that the Commissioner of Highways is requested to have made and be placed at both ends of the bridge signs identifying the bridge as the “US Army CPT. Benjamin Ronk Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.