Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:
Day of Remembrance for Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8
WHEREAS, November 8, 2024, marks the 63rd anniversary of the crash of Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8; and
WHEREAS, at the time, the crash of Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8 that occurred on November 8, 1961, was the worst in Virginia history and the second deadliest in American history for a single civilian aircraft; and
WHEREAS, seventy-four Army recruits and three crew members perished in the crash at Byrd Field in Richmond, Virginia; and
WHEREAS, the tragedy resulted in substantial reforms to the governance of charter aircraft companies in the United States and changed the way the Department of Defense transports troops within the United States; and
WHEREAS, Virginia pays tribute to the local first responders who courageously answered the call of duty to save the lives of the crash victims; and
WHEREAS, family members and communities across the United States continue to mourn those who perished sixty-three years ago;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize November 8, 2024, as a DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR IMPERIAL AIRLINES FLIGHT 201/8 in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.