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2016 SESSION

16103613D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 192
Offered January 20, 2016
Commending Jon Hatfield.
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Patrons-- O'Bannon; Senator: Edwards
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WHEREAS, Jon Hatfield, a patriotic veteran in Richmond, retired as executive director of the Virginia War Memorial after nearly two decades of diligent work to honor the sacrifices of his fellow service members and preserve the history of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Jon Hatfield attended The College of William and Mary for two years, then carried on a proud family tradition of military service, joining the United States Army in 1966; he rose through the ranks to become a company commander before transferring to the United States Army Reserve, where he retired in 1989 as a lieutenant colonel; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia War Memorial was dedicated in 1956 as a static display to honor the men and women who had died in service to the nation during World War II and the Korean War; when Jon Hatfield was hired as the first executive director in 1997, the memorial had fallen into a state of neglect and disrepair; and

WHEREAS, Jon Hatfield oversaw extensive renovations of the Virginia War Memorial and the construction of the Paul and Phyllis Galanti Education Center and a new shrine to honor Virginians killed in Iraq and Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, leading a small team of dedicated employees and dozens of generous volunteers, Jon Hatfield made education a priority for the Virginia War Memorial; he hired an education director, established seminars for students and youth groups, and produced “Virginians at War,” an award-winning series of documentaries; and

WHEREAS, under Jon Hatfield’s leadership, the Virginia War Memorial has become one of the premier veterans’ memorials in the country, with tens of thousands of annual visitors from all over the world; the site hosts numerous annual events, including Memorial Day and Veterans Day commemorations, as well as homecomings, reenlistments, and promotions for active-duty soldiers; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his duties as executive director, Jon Hatfield is an active speaker at schools, veterans groups, conventions, conferences, and civic organizations; he estimates that he attends 50 to 60 events each year; and

WHEREAS, after his well-earned retirement, Jon Hatfield plans to seek new opportunities to serve the community and spend more time with his family; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Jon Hatfield on the occasion of his retirement as executive director of the Virginia War Memorial; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Jon Hatfield as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his tireless commitment to honoring Virginia’s fallen soldiers and educating the residents of and visitors to the Commonwealth.