Bill Text: WV SCR16 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: US Army SP4 Wilbur Allen Smith Memorial Bridge
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-4)
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-09 - House Message received [SCR16 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2019-SCR16-Introduced.html
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 16
(By Senators Romano, Azinger, Baldwin, Beach, Hardesty, Jeffries, Lindsay, Maynard, Unger, Boso, Palumbo, Swope, and Stollings)
[Introduced January 25, 2019]
Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 08-1-17.04 (08A003), locally known as the Queen Shoals Bridge, carrying Queen Road on County Route 1 over the Elk River in Clay County, the “U. S. Army SP4 Wilbur Allen Smith Memorial Bridge”.
Whereas, Wilbur Allen Smith, known throughout his life as “Al”, was born to Wilbur Amos Smith and Mary Eloise Rogers on January 8, 1948, in Madison, West Virginia, and grew up in Clay County on Camp Creek Hill at Bomont, West Virginia; and
Whereas, Wilbur Allen Smith attended Clay County schools, graduated from Clay County High School in 1965, and was a member of the National Honor Society. He also attended Glenville State College with a goal of becoming a biology teacher; and
Whereas, Wilbur Allen Smith was inducted in the U. S. Army in 1968 and, after training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Fort Polk, Louisiana, he was sent to serve in Vietnam, beginning in October 1968. He served in the First Cavalry Division (Airmobile), an infantry division converted into a new kind of fighting force known as an air assault division for its extensive use of the mobility of helicopters, where he attained the rank of Specialist 4; and
Whereas, On June 2, 1969, two companies of SP4 Wilbur Allen Smith’s division encountered a large number of enemy soldiers in fortified bunkers along the Dong Nai River. What followed was an intense firefight resulting in more than 55 casualties. During the battle, SP4 Wilbur Allen Smith volunteered to neutralize one of the bunkers and he maneuvered to within 15 feet of the enemy’s position. Tragically, he was killed by the explosion of an enemy rocket grenade; and
Whereas, SP4 Wilbur Allen Smith was laid to rest in the Smith Family Cemetery on Camp Creek Hill near Bomont, West Virginia, and he is survived by two sisters and a large extended family who remember his life and spirit with great sentiment; and
Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate SP4 Wilbur Allen Smith and his contributions and sacrifice for our state and country; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 08-1-17.04 (08A003), locally known as the Queen Shoals Bridge, carrying Queen Road on County Route 1 over the Elk River in Clay County, the “U. S. Army SP4 Wilbur Allen Smith 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 SP4 Wilbur Allen Smith Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.
