Bill Text: WV SCR23 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requesting DOH name bridge in McDowell County "U. S. Army SFC Anthony Barton Memorial Bridge"
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2015-03-13 - House Message received [SCR23 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2015-SCR23-Introduced.html
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 23
(By Senators Maynard, Plymale and Stollings)
Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 24-16-13.39 (3961) (37.30512, -81.67535), locally known as Big Creek Owl Bridge, carrying WV Route 16 over Dry Fork in McDowell County, West Virginia, the "U. S. Army SFC Anthony Barton Memorial Bridge".
Whereas, Anthony Barton was born in Bluefield, West Virginia, on April 25, 1980; and
Whereas, Anthony Barton graduated from Big Creek High School in War, West Virginia, where he was co-valedictorian of the class of 1998 and excelled in football and wrestling. He subsequently received an organizational leadership degree from Mountain State University; and
Whereas, SFC Anthony Barton served in the West Virginia Army National Guard from December 2001 until his death in 2012; and
Whereas, SFC Anthony Barton served fourteen months in Iraq with the West Virginia Army National Guard as a military police officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom; and
Whereas, SFC Anthony Barton was a highly decorated soldier who received numerous awards and medals for his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal (Posthumous), Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge, Meritorious Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, West Virginia Emergency Service Ribbon with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, West Virginia State Service Ribbon with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, West Virginia Service Ribbon and Shoulder Sleeve Insignia for Wartime Service — 101st Airborne and 15th MP Brigade; and
Whereas, SFC Anthony Barton also served the state's citizenry on many occasions as a member of the West Virginia National Guard when he assisted during severe flooding, major snowstorms and other state emergencies; and
Whereas, SFC Anthony Barton was a certified police officer who graduated from the West Virginia State Police Academy and he served as a McDowell County deputy sheriff and as a police officer with the Town of War while serving in the West Virginia National Guard; and
Whereas, SFC Anthony Barton also enjoyed riding his Harley and playing guitar, and he was actively involved in the New Testament Christian Church, where he played guitar; and
Whereas, SFC Anthony Barton suffered from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from the highly stressful conditions of his deployment in Iraq; and
Whereas, Sadly, SFC Anthony Barton lost his battle with PTSD on December 26, 2012; and
Whereas, SFC Anthony Barton is survived by his spouse, Jessica Barton; children, James Tanner Beckett and Jared Ray Barton; parents, Donald and Mary Barton; sister, Tara Adkins and her husband, Matthew; grandparents, Clinton and Delores Tyree; four nephews, Michael Anthony and Andrew Reid Adkins, Declan Patrick O'Neil and Bodhi Jasper Hines; and numerous aunts and uncles and other family and friends; and
Whereas, It is only fitting that we honor the life of SFC Anthony Barton by naming this bridge in his memory as a lasting tribute to his dedicated service and sacrifice on behalf of his country, state and community; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 24-16-13.39 (3961) (37.30512, -81.67535), locally known as Big Creek Owl Bridge, carrying WV Route16 over Dry Fork in McDowell County, West Virginia, the "U. S. Army SFC Anthony Barton Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs at both ends of the bridge identifying the bridge as the "U. S. Army SFC Anthony Barton 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 and to the family of SFC Anthony Barton.
