Bill Text: WV HCR19 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: The "Staff Sergeant Raymond Armentrout Memorial Bridge"
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2012-02-28 - House received Senate message [HCR19 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2012-HCR19-Introduced.html
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19
(By Delegate Smith)
Requesting the Division of Highways name the bridges on the north and south bound lanes of I-79, numbered 21-79-98.57, near Weston, Lewis County, West Virginia the “Staff Sergeant Raymond Armentrout Memorial Bridge.”
Whereas, Raymond Armentrout was born on October 18, 1950, the son of the late Hansel and Paige Armentrout; and
Whereas, Raymond Armentrout graduated from Saint Patrick's High School in Weston in 1968; and
Whereas, Raymond Armentrout attended West Virginia University the fall semester of 1968 and was an ROTC cadet at the university before enlisting in the Army on March 1, 1969; and
Whereas, Raymond Armentrout was sent to Viet Nam on July 6, 1970, where he served with the 3rd squadron of the 17th Calvary, C Troop, known as "Charlie Horse"; and
Whereas, Raymond Armentrout was a crew chief and gunner on a OH-58A helicopter scout ship whose dangerous mission was to fly low to the ground in search of North Vietnamese troops while larger Cobra gun ships at higher altitude would wait to engage additional support after the scout helicopter had drawn enemy fire; and
Whereas, Raymond Armentrout was killed in action on February 23, 1971, while his unit was providing air support to a South Vietnamese invasion into Laos to cut off North Vietnamese troops as they infiltrated south on the Ho Chi Minh Trail; and
Whereas, For his valor Raymond Armentrout was posthumously promoted to Staff Sargent and awarded the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Raymond also received a National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; and
Whereas, On that fateful day in 1971, Staff Sargent Raymond Armentrout gave his last full measure of devotion to his country and to his comrades-in-arms; and
Whereas, It is only fitting and proper that these bridges be named in his honor, and that they henceforth stand as a permanent memorial so that Staff Sargent Raymond Armentrout's supreme sacrifice will not be forgotten; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways name the bridges on the north and south bound lanes of I-79, numbered 21-79-98.57, near Weston, Lewis County, West Virginia the “Staff Sergeant Raymond Armentrout Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and be placed, signs identifying the bridge as the “Staff Sergeant Raymond Armentrout Memorial Bridge” with a designation that Staff Sergeant Raymond Armentrout served in the Vietnam War; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is requested to forward a certified copy of this resolution to Raymond's brother, Tim Armentrout, and to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.
