H-3705.1  _______________________________________________

                     HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4024

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State of Washington      57th Legislature     2002 Regular Session

By Representatives Dunshee, Edwards, Jackley and Schmidt

Read first time 01/25/2002.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Requesting State Route 99 be named the William P. Stewart Memorial Highway.

    TO THE HONORABLE DOUGLAS B. MCDONALD, SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, AND TO THE WASHINGTON STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, AND TO THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION:

    We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

    WHEREAS, Mr. William P. Stewart (12/9/1839 - 12/11/1907) of Snohomish served bravely during the Civil War, volunteering to fight in the 29th Colored Infantry; and

    WHEREAS, Mr. William P. Stewart and his fellow soldiers faced horrible odds, with one in three becoming casualties during the war; and

    WHEREAS, Mr. William P. Stewart, while fighting with General William Smith's 18th Corps, saw almost daily combat at the front near Petersburg, Virginia; and

    WHEREAS, Mr. William P. Stewart and his division fought their way through enemy lines to capture 200 Confederate soldiers and four cannons with horses along with ammunition; and

    WHEREAS, Mr. William P. Stewart and his fellow soldiers from black regiments fought hard and suffered the greatest rates of wounds and death, yet saw little recognition after the war; and

    WHEREAS, Mr. William P. Stewart was a farmer before he volunteered for combat, and married Elizabeth Thorton and became a highly respected pioneer in the city of Snohomish; and

    WHEREAS, Mr. William P. Stewart lived on a farm north of town, his house still standing, and died on December 11, 1907; and

    WHEREAS, It is in the interests of the State of Washington to recognize Mr. William P. Stewart's bravery and sacrifices;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the

Washington State Transportation Commission commence proceedings to name State Route 99 the "William P. Stewart Memorial Highway."

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Douglas B. McDonald, Secretary of Transportation, the Washington State Transportation Commission, and the Washington State Department of Transportation.

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