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2021 SPECIAL SESSION I


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 713
Commending the Virginia National Guard.
 
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 4, 2021
Agreed to by the Senate, February 11, 2021
 

WHEREAS, in January 2021, members of the Virginia National Guard from throughout the Commonwealth mobilized and responded to the attack on the United States Capitol Building; and

WHEREAS, during the ceremonial counting of Electoral College votes by a joint session of the United States Congress on January 6, 2021, law-enforcement officers at the Capitol estimated that 75,000 attendees of the “Stop the Steal” gathering surrounded the building; and

WHEREAS, as the count continued, participants turned violent and broke through barricades, with hundreds of insurrectionists ultimately breaching doors and windows to enter the Capitol Building and storm congressional offices and chambers; in response to a request for assistance from Mayor Muriel E. Bowser, Governor Ralph S. Northam authorized the Virginia National Guard to deploy to Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, on January 7, the Virginia National Guard quickly mustered personnel, many of whom unexpectedly had to leave their families and full-time jobs, and departed for Washington, D.C., to provide security at the United States Capitol; approximately 2,000 Virginia National Guard personnel had deployed to the area by the following weekend; and

WHEREAS, Virginia National Guard personnel integrated with the local law-enforcement security plan to protect property and safeguard local residents and government officials, remaining on duty through the presidential inauguration on January 20; and

WHEREAS, in addition to the deployment to Washington, D.C., the Virginia National Guard has played a critical role in the Commonwealth’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020 and 2021 by distributing personal protective equipment to frontline workers and assisting the Virginia Department of Health with the planning, logistics, and administration of COVID-19 vaccinations; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia National Guard ably served the Commonwealth and the nation and responded to an extraordinary situation with the utmost distinction, demonstrating courage, composure, fortitude, and a strong commitment to safeguarding the founding ideals and institutions of the United States; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Virginia National Guard for its performance above and beyond its duties during and after the attack on the United States Capitol Building on January 6, 2021; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Virginia National Guard as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for its professionalism during this unprecedented incident.