WWI Centennial Day

WHEREAS, April 6, 2017 marks the centennial of America’s declaration of war against Imperial Germany and America’s entry into the First World War; and

WHEREAS, men and women from Arlington County served with distinction in the Armed Forces for the Great War and the wars to follow, and they continue to serve in defense of our freedoms in the wars against terrorism; and

WHEREAS, thirteen Arlington County residents were among those Americans killed in action during the First World War; and

WHEREAS, Arlington County is home to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and countless military veterans of all military services; and

WHEREAS, the United States Congress created the World War I Centennial Commission to educate, commemorate and honor this event in our history, and the State of Virginia created the Virginia WWI and WWII Commemoration Committee to do the same; and

WHEREAS, more than four million American families sent their sons and daughters to serve in uniform during the Great War, with 116,516 American soldiers giving their lives in combat and with another 200,000 wounded;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jay Fisette, Chair of the County Board in Arlington, Virginia do hereby proclaim April 6, 2017, as

WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL DAY

in Arlington County and encourage our residents to remember and commemorate America’s entry into the Great War and the great sacrifices that its citizens made 100 years ago.

Jay Fisette, Chair