Veterans Day (2009)

Veterans Day

WHEREAS, throughout our nation’s history, countless Americans have served the citizens of our great Commonwealth and our nation as members of the United States Armed Forces with courage, loyalty and devotion; and 
 
WHEREAS, Veterans Day was established in 1919 as Armistice Day to commemorate the signing of the peace agreement that ended World War I on November 11, 1919, and in 1954, President Eisenhower signed a bill declaring November 11 of each year a national holiday to honor all American veterans of wars and military engagements; and

WHEREAS, millions of veterans living in Virginia, America and abroad have served in the United States Armed Forces to preserve the democratic rights and freedoms enjoyed by the citizens of our nation and to help secure these rights for others throughout the world; and 

WHEREAS, Virginia is proud to be home to one of our nation’s largest military veteran populations and I commend these veterans for defending and promoting the American ideals of liberty, justice and democracy in the United States and abroad; and

WHEREAS, Virginians everywhere recognize the many sacrifices and positive contributions made by our nation’s military veterans and we are proud to observe Veterans Day in honor of every man and woman who has served in the United States Armed Forces throughout our nation’s history;        

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Timothy M. Kaine, do hereby recognize November 11, 2009 as VETERANS DAY in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.