Day of Remembrance for Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8

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, November 8, 2023 marks the 62^nd anniversary of the crash of Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8; and

WHEREAS, at the time, the crash of Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8 that occurred on November 8, 1961 was the worst in Virginia history and the second deadliest in American history for a single civilian aircraft; and

WHEREAS, seventy-four Army recruits and three crew members perished in the crash at Byrd Field in Richmond, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the tragedy resulted in substantial reforms to the governance of charter aircraft companies in the United States and changed the way the Department of Defense transports troops within the United States; and

WHEREAS, Virginia pays tribute to the local first responders who courageously answered the call of duty to save the lives of the crash victims; and

WHEREAS, family members and communities across the United States continue to mourn those who perished sixty-two years ago;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize November 8, 2023, as a DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR IMPERIAL AIRLINES FLIGHT 201/8 in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations