WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a native of Kingston, Jamaica, immigrated to the United States at the age of six, and blazed a path as the first female and first female veteran to serve as lieutenant governor; and

WHEREAS, the first black woman to hold statewide office, Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears’ quintessential leadership is a beacon of light to the Commonwealth of Virginia, exhibited through her sacrifice for others, her dedication to protecting life, and her zeal for improving our education system; and

WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears has shown perseverance, integrity, and a commitment to excellence through her public service; and

WHEREAS, she has served our nation in the United States Marine Corps, as a Presidential appointee to the United States Census Bureau, a distinguished member of the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans to the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and as Vice President of the Virginia State Board of Education; and

WHEREAS, her sustaining strength is rooted in faith, family, and community and she is guided by the fundamental belief that liberty and equality of every human soul work to unite people through ingenuity, reason, compassion, and commonsense; and

WHEREAS, her community work leading a men’s prison ministry and as a director of a women’s homeless shelter has changed lives for the homeless and given many families a second chance; and

WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears is to be commended for her leadership in making our Commonwealth the best place to live, work, and raise a family; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of the Commonwealth honor Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, her husband Terence, and her lovely family for their valuable contribution to strengthening the Spirit of Virginia;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize February 23, 2023, as WINSOME EARLE-SEARS DAY in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA and I call this observance to the attention of all our grateful citizens.