WHEREAS, Eunice E. Y. Haigler is a champion for civil rights and social justice who has served the Fredericksburg community and the Commonwealth in numerous capacities over the course of her distinguished career; and

WHEREAS, Eunice Haigler grew up in Fredericksburg and studied at Rutgers University, earning a master's degree in women's issues; and

WHEREAS, Eunice Haigler pursued a career as a qualified mental health professional but was also a staunch advocate for human rights, participating in countless marches, rallies, and demonstrations throughout her life; and

WHEREAS, Eunice Haigler joined Virginia Organizing, a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that brings people together to enhance the quality of life in their communities; during her tenure, she worked to address immigration reform, fair hiring laws, the school-to-prison pipeline, and policing reform; and

WHEREAS, in later life, Eunice Haigler has become a highly admired local historian in Fredericksburg and served as a trusted community liaison to Delegate Joshua Cole; and

WHEREAS, a woman of deep faith, Eunice Haigler has spent many years supporting churches in the Fredericksburg area as an administrator, photographer, and counselor; and

WHEREAS, in an effort to enhance racial diversity in its congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fredericksburg contacted Eunice Haigler at Virginia Organizing, which led to the creation of the Race Coalition of Fredericksburg; and

WHEREAS, as part of that initiative, Eunice Haigler researched the history of Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, and embarked upon a seven-year project to see Juneteenth designated as a state holiday in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Eunice Haigler's hard work paid off when the General Assembly passed legislation establishing Juneteenth as a state holiday in 2020; and

WHEREAS, Eunice Haigler is the proud matriarch of a large family, including five children, 15 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren, and she relishes every opportunity to pass along her passion for community engagement to new generations of servant leaders; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Eunice E. Y. Haigler hereby be commended for her legacy of service to the residents of Fredericksburg and the Commonwealth as a whole; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Eunice E. Y. Haigler as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for her personal and professional achievements.