WHEREAS, the United States of America was established after the Revolutionary War, fought from 1776 to 1783, a war won through the brilliant and courageous leadership of George Washington, revered Father of Our Country; and

WHEREAS, George Washington was born at Popes Creek, Westmoreland County, Virginia on February 22, 1732, and became the first American president, a Commander of the Continental Army, and president of the Constitutional Convention; and

WHEREAS, George Washington served as the Surveyor of Culpeper County, Virginia before beginning his military service in 1753 as a major and was quickly promoted to colonel of the Virginia Regiment; and

WHEREAS, Congress appointed George Washington to serve as the first general and commander in chief of the Continental Army in June 1775, and he proved capable in fashioning an untested soldiery into a formidable army; and

WHEREAS, General Washington courageously guided his troops through eight long years of war, including the challenging conditions of Valley Forge, the daring crossing of the icy Delaware River on Christmas night 1776, and a decisive victory at Yorktown that established American independence; and

WHEREAS, demonstrating his core belief that the military was subordinate to civilian rule, a central principle of the new United States, George Washington humbly resigned his commission to Congress at war’s end and went home to Mount Vernon; and 

WHEREAS, remaining committed to the establishment of a new form of government that would unify the sovereign states, George Washington established a conference that would serve as a catalyst for the Philadelphia Convention in 1787, and he was unanimously elected president of this body creating the necessary climate of compromise to create a bold, new government as outlined in our government charter, the Constitution of the United States; and

WHEREAS, George Washington was elected the first president of the United States in 1788, serving two terms of office from 1789 to 1797 before stepping down from the presidency to set a precedent of a peaceful transfer of power and to prevent the development of a monarchy or dictatorship in the United States; and

WHEREAS, through his honor, integrity, and humility, George Washington became the exemplary model of distinguished leadership for future presidents; and

WHEREAS, upon Washington’s death, President John Adams stated, “His example is now complete, and it will teach wisdom and virtue to magistrates, citizens, and men, not only in the present age, but in future generations, as long as our history shall be read;” and

WHEREAS, on his birthday and the national observance of President’s Day, citizens are encouraged to remember George Washington’s invaluable contributions to the establishment of our great nation, as well as his outstanding representation of the Commonwealth of Virginia;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize February 19, 2024, as GEORGE WASHINGTON DAY in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.