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, 2022 marks the 61st anniversary of the crash of Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8; and,

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

WHEREAS, 74 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 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, the family members and communities across the nation continue to mourn those who perished 61 years ago;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize November 8, 2022 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 our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations