Virginia 1997

Virginia

CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution in the Governor of the

Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

 AMERICA’S CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK

WHEREAS, the brave settlers who ventured to America in 1607 under the First Virginia Charter granted by King James I put their faith in God and offered a prayer of Thanksgiving upon arriving in the New World at the Jamestown settlement; and

WHEREAS, the English adventurers who were granted this charter were charged with several purposes, among them “propagating Christian religion;” and

WHEREAS, in his Notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson asked “Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God?,” and

WHEREAS, Mr. Jefferson later proclaimed as Governor of Virginia in 1779, a Public Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer, “That He would in mercy look down upon us, pardon all our sins and receive us into His favour; and finally, that He would establish the independence of these United States upon the basis of religion and virtue, and support and protect them in the enjoyment of peace, liberty and safety;” and

WHEREAS, James Madison proclaimed, “And to the same Divine Author of every good and perfect gift we are indebted for all the privileges and advantages, religious and civil, which are so richly enjoyed in this favored land” by Presidential Proclamation in 1815; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia was the first State to recognize the Statute of Religious Freedom and Article 1, Section 16 of the Virginia Constitution states “it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other;” and

WHEREAS, churches are important spiritual centers for millions of our citizens and help build strong families and cohesive communities; and

WHEREAS, during this Thanksgiving season we can all give thanks for the guidance, blessings and immeasurable bounty of our Creator, which has shaped the rich history of our Commonwealth and nation and brought us prosperity, freedom and opportunity;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, George Allen, Governor, do hereby recognize November 23-29, 1997, as CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

George Allen

Governor

Becky Davis Beamer

Secretary of the Commonwealth