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PARKERSBURG -- After a friend was turned down for induction into a neighboring state's military hall of fame because he'd neither been born nor enlisted there, Vienna resident Bernie Lyons realized the man could qualify for one in West Virginia.
One problem -- there is no military hall of fame for the Mountain State.
"I decided, well, heck, we don't have one. We should have one," said Lyons, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
Lyons wrote up a proposal last year, but it was too late to make it into the 2021 legislative session. It became this year's House Bill 4406, which unanimously passed the House of Delegates on Feb. 18 and is expected to be considered soon by the Senate's Military Committee.
"I immediately thought that that was just a fantastic idea," said Delegate Roger Conley, R-Wood, the bill's lead sponsor. "I was actually a little bit surprised that we did not already have this."
The bill would establish the West Virginia Military Hall of Fame to honor veterans "who have distinguished themselves on the field of battle and for such actions have received Purple Hearts or awards for valor for a specific act of heroism."
Those honored must have received an honorable discharge and "be of good moral character" and be natural-born citizens of the state, lived here the majority of their lives or have enlisted or been discharged in West Virginia.
In addition to the Purple Heart, eligible medals include the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism and the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Commendation Medal or Achievement Medal with "V" device.
"They left a piece of themselves in whatever war they fought in," Lyons said.
A committee of veterans would be appointed by the Veterans Affairs secretary to review applications for the hall.
Lyons was in Charleston for two committee meetings about the bill and the vote by the full House.
"It was really encouraging to sit there and see everybody voted for it" regardless of party affiliation, Lyons said.
"This is not a Democrat thing; this is not a Republican thing," Conley said. "This is to show respect and honor to … the people that gave us the right to be where we are today."
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.