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Bridge named to honor veteran killed in Vietnam

WEIRTON — Arlene Cool wanted her son, Mark, to be remembered. More than 100 people showed up Friday to do just that as the Colliers Way Bridge was renamed the Marine Cpl. Mark Douglas Cool Memorial Bridge in a ceremony at the Brooke-Hancock Veterans Memorial Park.

Cool was 19 years old when he was killed in action in South Vietnam’s Quang Tri Province while serving as a mortarman in the H&S Co., 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He was a Colliers native and a Follansbee High School graduate who had two other brothers in the Marine Corps.

Del. Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, was the primary sponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 96, which renamed the bridge, and attended the ceremony, where he read the resolution and presented a copy to the family, as well as copies of the signs that were erected on the bridge. McGeehan also shared his favorite Bible verse, John 15:13, “there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Cool had made it to a place of safety when he noticed an injured comrade, McGeehan explained.

“He risked his life and lost it because he went to drag a comrade in arms from Arkansas to safety, and that is when Cpl. Cool made the ultimate sacrifice,” McGeehan said.

Cool was injured Feb. 27, 1968, during the the Battle of Khe Sanh, a 77-day seige, dying March 2, 1968, after being taken to a naval hospital in Okinawa, Japan.

The Cool family was joined by several area residents and the Tri-State Marines Corps Club, including the honor guard, which presented a 21-gun salute and played taps, while Chaplain Jim Pitzer read the Marine’s Oath and presented a copy to Arlene Cool. The Tri-State Young Marines provided a color guard. Elder Mike Smith of Weirton Covenant Church led those attending in prayer and Bonnie Slemmer performed the national anthem.

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