WHEREAS, in 2020, Disabled American Veterans celebrates 100 years of serving veterans of the United States Armed Forces, their families and survivors, and communities; and

WHEREAS, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) was founded by World War I veterans on September 25, 1920, and was chartered by the United States Congress on June 17, 1932; the organization is dedicated to a single purpose: empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity; and

WHEREAS, DAV accomplishes its mission by ensuring veterans and their families have access to the full range of benefits available to them, by advocating for the interests of America's injured heroes, and by educating the public about the needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life; and

WHEREAS, DAV provides free, professional assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining benefits and services provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other agencies; and

WHEREAS, DAV also provides outreach concerning its programs and services to disabled veterans and their families and to all members of the American public; and

WHEREAS, DAV represents the interests of disabled veterans, their families, and their widowed spouses and orphans before the federal government, as well as state and local governments; and

WHEREAS, DAV has fought tirelessly for equal access to critical VA caregiver benefits and services for several disabled veterans of all generations, resulting in legislation to expand eligibility to those injured prior to September 11, 2001, as part of the VA MISSION Act; and

WHEREAS, DAV co-presents the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic and the National Disabled Veterans TEE Tournament; has organized the nationwide DAV Transportation Network to provide free transportation for veterans to VA medical appointments; operates an active Charitable Service Trust funding the needs of local providers assisting at-risk local veterans; has built an active volunteer corps offering thousands of hours of service to veterans and communities; offers veterans, transitioning military members, and spouses access to employers through its nationwide job fair program; and provides emergency assistance to veterans in need through the DAV Disaster Relief Program; and

WHEREAS, in addition to its many programs for veterans, DAV operates the Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship Program to contribute to the lives of young Americans; and

WHEREAS, the DAV Department of Virginia and its chapters across the Commonwealth demonstrate their unending commitment to ill and injured veterans of all generations and conflicts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That Disabled American Veterans hereby be commended for its legacy of service to veterans on the occasion of its 100th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Disabled American Veterans as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for the organization's contributions to American society, national security, and the welfare of military veterans and their families.