Committee Substitute
for
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 88
(By Delegates Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker), Eldridge, Pushkin, Adkins, Akers, Amos, Anders, Anderson, Barnhart, Bridges, Brooks, Browning, Burkhammer, Butler, Campbell, D. Cannon, J. Cannon, Canterbury, Chiarelli, W. Clark, T. Clark, Clay, Cooper, Coop-Gonzalez, Criss, Crouse, Dean, DeVault, Dillon, Dittman, Drennan, Ellington, Fehrenbacher, Ferrell, Flanigan, Fluharty, Foggin, Funkhouser, Garcia, Gearheart, Green, Hall, Hamilton, Hansen, Heckert, Hillenbrand, Hite, Holstein, Hornbuckle, Hornby, Horst, Hott, G. Howell, T. Howell, Jeffries, Jennings, Kelly, Kimble, Kump, Kyle, Leavitt, Lewis, Linville, Lucas, Mallow, Marple, Martin, Masters, Maynor, Mazzocchi, McCormick, McGeehan, Miller, Moore, Parsons, Petitto, Phillips, Pinson, Pritt, Ridenour, Riley, Rohrbach, Roop, Shamblin, Sheedy, B. Smith, D. Smith, Statler, Steele, Stephens, Street, Toney, Vance, Ward, White, Williams, Willis, Worrell, Young, and Zatezalo)
[Originating in the Committee on Rules; Reported on April 2, 2025]
Recognizing and honoring the First Responders Honor Board’s nominees of the Medal of Valor.
Whereas, The Medal of Valor is presented to firefighters, law-enforcement officers, emergency medical services personnel, and other professionals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their professional capacity; and
Whereas, Nominations for the Medal of Valor were presented to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House for consideration by the West Virginia Legislature; and
Whereas, The First Responders Honor Board has submitted the following nominees for consideration: Captain Donald Larsen, New Martinsville Police officer, and Darrell Lambert, Lake Volunteer Firefighter; and
Whereas, Captain Donald Larsen performed a welfare check at a residence and observed two individuals incapacitated. Captain Larsen immediately made entry into the residence and rescued each of the individuals. Captain Larsen was transported to the hospital and admitted for elevated carbon monoxide levels in his system. Each of the victims were also hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning. Without Captain Larsen’s selfless actions, the two victims most certainly would not have survived; and
Whereas, Lake volunteer Firefighter Darrell Lambert was driving his personal vehicle with his wife when he was notified of a house fire. Firefighter Lambert was near the reported fire and within two minutes of being dispatched, Lambert was on the scene. Upon arrival, Lambert was advised that a female was trapped inside the residence. Without hesitation and without any firefighter bunker gear or other personal protective equipment, Lambert made entry into the burning structure and located the victim. While attempting to rescue the victim, Lambert sustained burns to his head, face, and neck area. Despite Lambert’s personal injuries, he was able to successfully drag the victim out of the residence and to safety; and
Whereas, The West Virginia Legislature is honored to recognize the nominees with the Medal of Valor for their actions that went above and beyond the call of duty, regardless of his or her personal safety, in an attempt to protect human life; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the members of the West Virginia Legislature, by this resolution, confirm that the nominees be awarded the Medal of Valor; and be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Governor Patrick Morrisey.