HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 54

(By Delegates  Harshbarger, Worrell, Dean, Hamrick, Waxman, Hanna, Butler, McGeehan, Cadle, Mandt,  D. Kelly and Queen)

[Introduced February 7, 2019]

 

Requesting the Division of Highways name the new Cairo Bridge (State Project No. S343-31-9.82 Federal Project No. STP-0031(037)D) to be located on Main Street, in Cairo, Ritchie County that crosses the North Fork Hughes River, and replaces bridge number 43-31-9.82,  the “U. S. Navy AOAN David ‘Wayne’ Cornell Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, David “Wayne” Cornell was born on October 16, 1966, the only son of David Paul Cornell and Dolley Marie Cornell (nee Jewel), both of Ritchie County, West Virginia; and

Whereas, David ‘Wayne’ Cornell attended Cairo Elementary School and graduated from Harrisville High School where he was well liked and respected by his teachers and fellow classmates; and

Whereas, David ‘Wayne’ Cornell spent the summer months of his teenage years working for the town of Cairo and the citizens of Ritchie County by cleaning and clearing the banks of the North Fork Hughes River, including the areas around the existing bridge and the new bridge’s location; and

Whereas, David ‘Wayne’ Cornell was an avid hunter and fisherman, spending much of his free time fishing the North Fork Hughes River and hunting the surrounding areas.  He represented to many all that was good and wholesome while still embracing the spirit of “Wild and Wonderful West Virginia”; and

Whereas, David ‘Wayne’ Cornell enlisted in the United States Navy upon his graduation in 1984 and earned the rank of Aviation Ordnanceman Airman (AOAN). Aviation Ordnancemen have some of the more high-risk responsibilities in the Armed Forces inasmuch as they handle and service weapons and ammunition carried on Navy aircraft; and

Whereas, AOAN Cornell was stationed on the USS Coral Sea CV43, and was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Navy Expeditionary Medal and Navy Unit Commendation for his direct involvement in the Coral Sea’s combat operations against the hostile government of Libya in 1986; and

Whereas, Sadly, AOAN Cornell was killed on January 31, 1988, onboard the USS Coral Sea CV-43 during the deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. His death was directly connected to his efforts to preserve his ship’s integrity and the lives of his shipmates; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the new Cairo Bridge (State Project No. S343-31-9.82 Federal Project No. STP-0031(037)D) to be located on Main Street, in Cairo, Ritchie County that crosses the North Fork Hughes River, and replaces bridge number 43-31-9.82,  the “U. S. Navy AOAN David ‘Wayne’ Cornell Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both ends of the bridge containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the bridge as the “U. S. Navy AOAN David ‘Wayne’ Cornell 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.