WHEREAS, the quiet courage and immense sacrifice of women tells the story of Virginia’s history, and many historical accounts of pioneers, trailblazers, and groundbreaking women contribute to our strong foundation of American values, scientific achievement, and entrepreneurship; and

WHEREAS, Martha Washington, the nation’s inaugural first lady, was born in the Commonwealth and is often remembered for her leadership in support of the Revolutionary War by calling women to provide resources; and

WHEREAS, pioneers in women’s suffrage, such as Richmond-native Lila Meade Valentine, paved the way for women to vote and blazed the trail for women to hold public office, opening the door for the strong presence of women serving in our General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, women like civic leader and social reformer Ora E. Brown Stokes of Chesterfield County, while not included in the pages of a history book, made contributions no less vital through her tireless efforts for a women’s right to vote and receive an education; and

WHEREAS, today, women constitute the majority of the student population at Virginia colleges and universities; and

WHEREAS, women strengthen and enrich society by impacting every field from business to medicine to government to the arts, fueling innovation while nurturing the family and promoting the growth and success of tomorrow’s leaders; and

WHEREAS, we remember the legacy and work of Katherine Johnson, a dynamic American mathematician who spent her thirty-three-year career at Langley Research Center in Hampton where she calculated the precise trajectories that would allow the successful landing of Apollo 11 on the moon in 1969; and

WHEREAS, Women’s History Month is an important opportunity for Virginians to pause and honor the profound contributions that women pioneers and trailblazers have made toward safeguarding the freedoms we hold so dear; and

WHEREAS, Virginia is a beacon of liberty built by millions of patriotic and often unsung women who have served and shaped the Commonwealth in the workplace, the home, and the war front; and

WHEREAS, Virginians are encouraged to appreciate and honor the past, present, and future contributions of women in the Commonwealth and to empower future generations of women leaders and innovators across all fields both inside and outside the home;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, salute the First Lady of the Commonwealth, Suzanne Youngkin, and all women who have held this position, and do hereby recognize March 2023, as WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA as part of our observance that honors the history and achievements of women in Virginia and across America.