HJ 97 — Commending the Monument Terrace 'Support Our Troops' rallies.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 22103571D I HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

97 NE Offered January 13, 2022 Commending the Monument Terrace "Support ––––––––––"Our Troops" rallies.

TN Patrons––WalkerAgreed to by the House of Delegates, January 17, 2022 R Agreed to by the Senate, January 20, 2022 O WHEREAS, since November 30, 2001, veterans and Byron;patriots in the Lynchburg community have L the United States Armed Forces serving at home and abroad;

Senators:andps" rallies in support of members of L WHEREAS, for more than 1,043 consecutive weeks, Monument Terrace "Support Our Troops" rally E supporters have congregated every Friday at Monument Terrace in downtown Lynchburg, holding patriotic flags, displaying military memorabilia, and wearing red, white, and blue;

Newman and PeakeD Rmatter ––––––––––their WHEREAS,race, sincereligion, Novemberpolitical 30,beliefs, 2001,or veteransnational andorigin patriotsto inrecognize thethat Lynchburgfreedom communityis haveworth Ofighting gathered every week for theand Monumentjustice Terraceshould "Supportbe Our Troops" rallies in support of membersDof the Unitedsame Statesfor Armedeveryone; Forces serving at home and abroad;

and WHEREAS, forover more4,000 thanunique 1,043challenge consecutivecoins weeks,depicting Monumenta TerraceWorld "SupportWar I "doughboy" on one side and "Honk if You Support Our Troops" rallyon Uthe patrioticother flags,side displayinghave militarybeen memorabilia,presented to veterans and wearingpatriots red,who white,havWHEREAS, out-of-town visitors from 44 states, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and blue;23 countries H have received such a challenge coin at the Monument Terrace "Support Our Troops" rallies;

anddingand C9 WHEREAS, the Monument Terrace "Support Our Troops" ralliesrally-goers haveline broughtChurch peopleStreet together,in noa Edisplay matterof theirE race,pride religion,and politicalpatriotism beliefs, or national origin to recognizehonor thatthe freedomfaithful isand worthdutiful fightingservice forof andmembers justiceof shouldall bebranches of the samemilitarR; for everyone;

andandWHEREAS, Dwith WHEREAS,attendance overaveraging 4,000between unique40 challengeand coins100 depictingpeople aeach Worldweek, Warthe IMonument "doughboy"Terrace on"Support oneOur sideTroops" andrallies "Honkhave ifincluded Youparticipants Supportwho Ourserved Troops"as onmembers of the othermilitary sidein haveWorld beenWar presentedII, tothe veteransKorean andWar, patriotsthe whoVietnam haveWar, attendedthe Cold War, the MonumentGulf TerraceWar, "Supportand, Ourmore Troops"recently, rallies;conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq;

and haveloved receivedones suchwho aare challengeserving coinabroad, atand all participants acknowledge the Monumentdangers Terracefaced "Supportand Ourthe Troops"sacrifices rallies;made by members of the United States Armed Forces;

andesand WHEREAS, during the Monument Terrace "Support Our Troops" rally-goersrallies, linea Churchsign Streetis indisplayed awith displaythe photos and names of pridethe andlocal patriotismsoldiers towho honorhave died in the faithfulline andof dutifulduty servicewhile ofserving membersin ofAfghanistan allYou branchesSupport ofOur theTroops" military;sign is displayed on Church Street for drivers to show their support;

andandk Hif WHEREAS, withas attendancea averagingresult betweenof 40 and 100 people each week, the Monument 9 Terrace "Support Our Troops" ralliesrallies, havemembers includedof participantsseveral whoveterans servedorganizations, asincluding membersMilitary Order of the militaryPurple inHeart, Military Order of World WarWars, II,Vietnam theVeterans Koreanof War,America, theMarine VietnamCorps War,League, theAmerican ColdLegion, War,Veterans theof GulfForeign War,Wars, and,and moremotorcycle recently,groups conWHEREAS,have manyunited attendeesto ofoffer help to less fortunate veterans and their families in the LynWHEREAS, the Monument Terrace "Support Our Troops" rallies comehave togained honorwidespread lovedsupport onesin whothe areLynchburg servingcommunity abroad, and allserve participantsas acknowledgea thereminder dangersof faced and the sacrificescommitment madeand bybravery members of the Unitedveterans Statesand Armedactive Forces;duty service members;

andnow, WHEREAS,therefore, duringbe theit MonumentRESOLVED Terraceby "Support Our Troops" rallies, a sign is displayed with the photosHouse and names of theDelegates, local soldiers who have died in the lineSenate ofconcurring, dutyThat while serving in Afghanistan and Iraq to honor native sons and daughters of Lynchburg and the surroundingMonument counties,Terrace and"Support a26, "Honk2021; if You Support Our Troops" sign is displayed on Church Street for drivers to show their support;

andand, veteransbe organizations,ithereby includingbe Militarycommended Orderon the occasion of the Purpleevent's Heart,20th Militaryanniversary Orderon ofNovember WorldRESOLVED Wars,FURTHER, 36That Vietnamthe VeteransClerk of America,the MarineHouse Corpsof League,Delegates Americanprepare Legion,a Veteranscopy of Foreignthis Wars,resolution andfor /presentation 37to motorcycleSteve groupsBozeman, havefounder unitedof tothe offerMonument helpTerrace to"Support lessOur fortunateTroops" veteransrallies, andas theiran familiesexpression inof the /General 38Assembly's Lynchburgadmiration areafor the event organizers' work to honor the service and ultimatelysacrifices formedof members of the LynchburgUnited AreaStates VeteransArmed Council,Forces Inc.,for inmore 2015;than 1,043 consecutive weeks.

and 39 WHEREAS, the Monument Terrace "Support Our Troops" rallies have gained widespread support in the Lynchburg community and serve as a reminder of the commitment and bravery of the veterans and active duty service members;

now, therefore, be it Our Troops" rallies hereby be commended on the occasion of the event's 20th anniversary on November 26, 2021;

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Steve Bozeman, founder of the Monument Terrace "Support Our Troops" rallies, as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the event organizers' work to honor the service and sacrifices of members of the United States Armed Forces for more than 1,043 consecutive weeks.