Delegate John Westfall, R-Jackson, gives replica signs to U.S. Army Staff Sgt. William “Billy” E. Friese’s children Sara, left, and Christan, right, during the ceremony of renaming a bridge locally known as City Beer Overpass carrying Interstate 77 over W.Va. 21 in Wood County in Friese’s memory. (Photo by Tyler Bennett)

MINERAL WELLS — Friends, family, and the community came together Monday to honor the late U.S. Army Staff Sgt. William “Billy” E. Friese, as a ceremony was held to dedicate a bridge being renamed after him at Big Tygart United Methodist Church.

Growing up in Rockport and graduating from Parkersburg South High School in 2007, Friese joined the West Virginia National Guard a year later in 2008.

He was assigned to the West Virginia Army National Guard 111th Engineer Brigade. He was previously deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 with the 1092nd Engineer Battalion.

During his time, Friese would also earn an occupational associate degree in specialized diesel technology and management from WyoTech in June 2013.

Friese was killed July 18, 2019, in a non-combat-related incident at Camp Buehring in Kuwait during Operation Inherent Resolve with the West Virginia Army National Guard.

Members of American Legion Post 15 give a rifle salute in honor of the late U.S. Army Staff Sgt. William “Billy” E. Friese on Monday morning. (Photo by Tyler Bennett)

“He was ready to do the next big thing, we lived on a golf course and one of his favorite things to do was to go into a little pond, and get all the golf balls. Clean them all up, set them up in buckets to sell them to all the golfers, so he was always ready for the next day,” said Kayla Lehan, Friese’s sister. “He would be amazed by the amount of love and support.”

House Concurrent Resolution 25 passed the West Virginia House of Delegates and Senate in March calling for the Division of Highways to name the bridge locally known as City Beer Overpass carrying Interstate 77 over W.Va. 21 in Wood County in Friese’s memory.

The resolution was introduced by Delegate Steve Westfall, R-Jackson, and adopted by voice vote.

“We do a lot of things in the House, some things good, some things bad. But this was one of the things I get a lot of joy out of stuff to help families do this,” Westfall said.

Among awards and medals, Friese received the Meritorious Service Medal, Achievement Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon with Bronze Star Device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, West Virginia National Guard Emergency Services Ribbon with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, West Virginia National Guard State Service Ribbon with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster and West Virginia National Guard Service Ribbon.

Alex Vaughn reads a message from U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., during the ceremony on Monday morning. (Photo by Tyler Bennett)