Special accommodations will be provided for media covering a memorial service Sunday, May 26, at West Virginia University for a West Virginia National Guard soldier who is the latest American casualty in the U.S.-led war on terrorism.

The service for Sgt. Gene Arden Vance Jr. of Morgantown will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 26, at WVU s Mountainlair Ballrooms. WVU and the West Virginia National Guard are coordinating the ceremony.

Parking for media will be available on Maiden Lane, Prospect Street between North High Street and University Avenue, and the Mountainlair parking garage. The right side of Maiden Lane will be priority parking for television crews to accommodate their satellite technology needs. Trucks must provide their power and approximately 600 feet of cable to the Ballrooms. WVU Department of Public Safety officers and parking attendants will be at various sites near these locations to direct media where to park.

Inside the Mountainlair, risers for television crews and a mult box for audio needs will be set up along the left side of the Ballrooms, and a similar area for newspaper photographers will be set aside along the right side. Seating for print journalists will be in the area near the risers.

Refreshments for media will be available in the Mountaineer Room just outside the Ballrooms.

During the bell-ringing following the service, an area for media will be provided on the sidewalk directly behind the bell.

Media are encouraged to arrive by 2 p.m. At the request of the family, coverage should begin at the start of the ceremony. Media credentials will be checked at the entrance to the Ballrooms.

Directions to West Virginia University Mountainlair from various points
p. Traveling west from Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Md., and other East Coast points , take Interstate 68 to Morgantown. Take Exit 1 (University Avenue) off of I-68. Once around the loop of the exit ramp, turn left at the intersection.

Continue on this road, past University Motors to the right. The street becomes Don Knotts Boulevard, and then University Avenue once you pass the Wharf District entrance to the left. You will cross Deckers Creek on a short bridge. Go to the second stop light past the bridge. You will want to be in the right-hand lane.

This will be the intersection of University Avenue and Pleasant Street. At the stoplight where you will see a large concrete bridge to your left, turn right up the hill. Go through the first light (High Street) and turn left at the second stoplight onto Spruce Street. (This is a one-way street)

Stay in the middle lane of this street all the way through Willey Street and continue up hill to Prospect Street. (The first stop SIGN you reach.) Turn left onto Prospect Street.

At the next intersection, it will seem as though you have reached a dead-end. Turn right, and go half a block to where Prospect Street continues and turn left. You will see a parking garage to your right after you turn onto Prospect. There will be parking attendants, possibly University Police officers, to direct you where to park.

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* *Traveling south from Pittsburgh/Washington Pa. * , exit Interstate 79 at Exit 155, Star City, the first exit past the WV/Pa. state line. Turn left off of exit ramp, under the bridge of the interstate, and continue down the hill past McDonalds to Sheetz. At this stoplight, bear to your right. There is construction occurring in this area. Caution is advised.

Continue across the bridge, and remain on this street, past the WVU Coliseum to your right, down a long grade, and through several stop lights. You will pass Seneca Center on the right. You will see a footbridge over this street, spanning between a red brick building (Stansbury Hall) on the right and a PRT station on the left. Get into the left lane before the next stoplight.

This intersection is rather confusing. From the left-hand lane turn onto the small street between the Mountain Peoples Co-op and a brick building with arches. Continue 3 blocks, through one stop light, and turn left onto Spruce Street at the second light.

Stay in the middle lane of this street all the way through Willey Street and continue up hill to Prospect Street. (The first stop SIGN you reach.) Turn left onto Prospect Street.

At the next intersection, it will seem as though you have reached a dead-end. Turn right, and go half a block to where Prospect Street continues and turn left.. You will see a parking garage to your right after you turn onto Prospect. There will be parking attendants, possibly University Police officers, to direct you where to park.

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* *Traveling from Kentucky, Ohio, Southern Virginia and other western and southern points * , take Interstate 79 north to exit 148. (Interstate 68)

When exiting I-79, remain in the right-hand lane, as this will become the exit ramp for Exit 1, University Avenue. Take this exit and turn left at the stoplight at the end of the ramp.

Continue on this road, past University Motors to the right. The street becomes Don Knotts Boulevard, and then University Avenue once you pass the Wharf District entrance to the left. You will cross Deckers Creek on a short bridge. Go to the second stop light past the bridge. You will want to be in the right-hand lane.

This will be the intersection of University Avenue and Pleasant Street At the stoplight where you will see a large concrete bridge to your left, turn right up the hill. Go through the first light (High Street) and turn left at the second stoplight onto Spruce Street. (This is a one-way street)

Stay in the middle lane of this street all the way through Willey Street and continue up hill to Prospect Street. (The first stop SIGN you reach.) Turn left onto Prospect Street.

At the next intersection, it will seem as though you have reached a dead-end. Turn right, and go half a block to where Prospect Street continues and turn left. You will see a parking garage to your right after you turn onto Prospect. There will be parking attendants, possibly University Police officers, to direct you where to park.