American Eagle Day

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

American Eagle Day

WHEREAS, on June 20, 1782, the bald eagle was designated as the national emblem of the United States at the Second Continental Congress; and

WHEREAS, the bald eagle's image, meaning, and symbolism have played significant roles in American history; and

WHEREAS, the bald eagle is the central image used in the Great Seal of the United States and in the seals of many branches of the United States government, including the Presidency, Congress, Department of Defense, Treasury Department, Justice Department, State Department, Department of Commerce, and United States Postal Service; and

WHEREAS, the bald eagle has important natural, cultural, and spiritual importance to Native American Tribes in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the bald eagle is a flagship indicator of the health of lands and waters, particularly the Chesapeake Bay, where the number of nesting pairs of bald eagles in Virginia grew from a low of 33 in the 1970s to nearly 2,000 in present day; and

WHEREAS, the Chesapeake Bay, particularly Virginia’s coastal rivers, provide vital summer and wintering habitat for concentrations of thousands of bald eagles from Florida to the eastern Canadian provinces; and

WHEREAS, through vigilant efforts by Virginians and Americans from every state, the bald eagle symbolizes commitment to our country and American values such as freedom, honor, and tradition;

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

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations