WHEREAS, proclaiming North Carolina as “Veteran Friendly” is an opportunity to recognize, remember, honor, and thank the men and women, who have bravely served our country in every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces – the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Space Force; and
WHEREAS, with this formal designation to our Veterans, we make the commitment to support Veterans in our communities as they seek: employment, medical care, educational opportunities, recreational opportunities, Housing and Tax benefits, and Burial and Memorial services; and
WHEREAS, we recognize Veteran owned businesses, support the need for well trained and skilled Veterans and acknowledge their potential contributions to North Carolina’s workforce and economy; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina has a rich history of and close ties to the Armed Forces, with nearly 800,000 Veterans, (eighth in the nation), which is almost 10 percent of North Carolina’s population; North Carolina additionally has over 113,000 active-duty service members, which ranks us as fifth in the nation, and more than 21,000 members of the National Guard and Reserves, and their families call the Tarheel State their home; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina Veterans have served in many diverse conflicts spanning generations, including World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and the Gulf War, while those in active duty continue to fight daily against the ongoing Global War on Terror; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina is fortunate to have many living heroes to celebrate today, but those American warriors who gave their lives in defense of our nation and never made it back home are also acknowledged and remembered as well; and
WHEREAS, we recognize and honor the men and women who have bravely served our country during America’s times of need to ensure the freedoms North Carolinians benefit from today. North Carolina is dedicated to ensuring resources and facilities that benefit the Veterans at different phases of life and need; and
WHEREAS, today, we lead all the 50 states in our nation by proclaiming our great state of North Carolina as “Veteran Friendly”, and we commit to adhering to the principles and values that demonstrate our appreciation to all those who have served our nation. This proclamation does not end here. From this day forward, we will reflect on this initiative to drive programs and services that continue to build on our support to our most valuable individuals, our Veterans;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October 23, 2021, as “A VETERAN FRIENDLY STATE” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.