[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 18 (Monday, February 1, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E82]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING AND THANKING THE VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. A. DONALD McEACHIN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 1, 2021

  Mr. McEACHIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and thank the 
Virginia National Guard for their outstanding work during and after the 
insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. These men and 
women honored the call of our country, forsaking precious time with 
their families, to serve and maintain our democracy.
  Virginia's National Guard provided a sorely needed response on 
January 6, with the Quick Reaction Force out of Manassas arriving 
within 12 hours of receiving D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's request for 
assistance. In the following days, thousands of citizen-soldiers from 
across our great Commonwealth deployed to defend our nation's capital. 
These individuals made tremendous sacrifices to uproot their lives in 
the defense of democracy; within a matter of days, and in some cases 
even hours, members of the Virginia National Guard took leave from 
their regular jobs and deployed to Washington, D.C. without knowing 
when they would return home. I am especially proud of the men and women 
from across the Fourth Congressional District of Virginia who served, 
including BTroop, 2nd Squadron--183 Calvary Regiment from Suffolk, VA, 
1710th Transportation Company from Emporia, VA, and 276th Engineer 
Battalion from Petersburg, VA.
  These brave individuals remained dedicated to the mission for weeks 
at a time, despite the U.S. Capitol not offering the level of 
hospitality our heroes deserve. While in the city, they persevered 
while sleeping on cold floors, being shunted disrespectfully into 
parking garages, and lacking access to quality food. When I had the 
opportunity to meet with our Virginia National Guard while attending 
the inauguration, I was struck by how they maintained their cheerful 
spirit despite these challenging and weighty responsibilities. This is 
a testament to their true character as Virginians, who are called to 
service regardless of the conditions and the mission given to them. The 
Virginia National Guard provided crucial support for the preservation 
of our democracy. Due to the sacrifices of thousands of our 
Commonwealth's brave soldiers and airmen, in coordination with other 
State National Guard units from across our nation, we were able to 
inaugurate President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Vice President Kamala D. 
Harris on the same hallowed grounds where a violent mob sought to 
overturn the certification of our national election just two weeks 
prior.
  Time and again, ``The Commonwealths Guardians'' have served Virginia 
and the United States of America and will continue to do so when called 
upon. The actions of our Commonwealth's brave citizen-soldiers 
demonstrate the indominable fortitude of the Virginia National Guard.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and 
honoring the brave members of the Virginia National Guard who answered 
the call to service in defense of our nation's capital to ensure the 
preservation of our cherished democracy.

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