248th Birthday of the United States Navy

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

WHEREAS, on October 13, 1775, the United States Navy was established by resolution of the Continental Congress; and

WHEREAS, for 248 years, the United States Navy has answered the call of duty in times of war and peace, to preserve democracy both at home and abroad, and to keep waterways safe and open for global commerce; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth is the home to the largest naval base in the world; and

WHEREAS, more than 85,000 active duty and Navy Reserve service members and more than 43,000 civilian workers and their families are stationed in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, these service members and civilian workers support our national security and protect our freedoms at a myriad of locations in the Commonwealth, including: Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Naval Air Station Oceana and Dam Neck Annex, Naval Station Norfolk, Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Surface Combat Systems Center Wallops Island and the Pentagon; and

WHEREAS, the United States Navy has been instrumental in presenting the ideals of courage, fairness, and equality all over the world through the selfless actions of its men and women; and

WHEREAS, today, we celebrate the continued strength, professionalism, and bravery of our ready and resilient Sailors in the all-volunteer force;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize October 13, 2023, as the 248th BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations