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By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

George Washington Day

WHEREAS, George Washington, the Father of Our Country, was born at Pope’s Creek, Westmoreland County, Virginia on February 22, 1732, and became the first American president, a Commander of the Continental Army, and president of the Constitutional Convention; and

WHEREAS, after first serving as the Surveyor of Culpeper County, Virginia, Washington began his military service in 1753 as a major and was quickly promoted to colonel of the Virginia Regiment, distinguishing himself as a brave and respected leader; and

WHEREAS, in June 1775, Congress appointed George Washington to serve as the first general and commander in chief of the Continental Army, and he proved capable in fashioning an untested soldiery into a formidable army; and

WHEREAS, General Washington courageously guided his troops through eight long years of war, including the challenging conditions of Valley Forge, the daring crossing of the icy Delaware River on Christmas night 1776, and a decisive victory at Yorktown that established American independence; and

WHEREAS, after humbly resigning his commission at war’s end, Washington went home to Mount Vernon, committed to the establishment of a new form of government that would unify the sovereign states, and established a conference that would serve as a catalyst for the Philadelphia Convention in 1787; and

WHEREAS, George Washington was elected to preside over and guide the members of the Philadelphia Convention as they drafted our government charter, the Constitution of the United States; and

WHEREAS, in 1788, George Washington accepted the call of the people and was elected the first president of the United States, serving two terms that set the standard for future presidents to serve with honor, integrity, and humility; and

WHEREAS, upon Washington’s death, President John Adams stated, “His example is now complete, and it will teach wisdom and virtue to magistrates, citizens, and men, not only in the present age, but in future generations, as long as our history shall be read;”

WHEREAS, on his birthday and the national observance of President’s Day, citizens are encouraged to remember George Washington’s invaluable contributions to the establishment of our great nation, as well as his outstanding representation of the Commonwealth of Virginia;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize February 20, 2023, as GEORGE WASHINGTON DAY in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of our citizens.