[1]Happy Thanksgiving
As we gather today with friends and family to recognize and give thanks for our countless blessings, Maureen and I wanted to take a moment to wish you and your loved ones a very happy Thanksgiving.This is our second Thanksgiving in the Executive Mansion. It is such an incredible honor to serve as Governor of Virginia, and every day Maureen and I are reminded of the historic nature of our responsibility and opportunity, and we never forget that we would not be in this position without you: your hard work, sacrifices, time, commitment and support. We are thankful and blessed for the trust you have placed in us, and every day I work to honor that trust by remaining focused on building a Commonwealth of Opportunity in Virginia, making it the best place in America to live, work and raise a family.
We are also thankful this weekend for an opportunity to spend time with our children….in a unique way. On Saturday, the Executive Mansion will be, like a lot of Virginia homes, a “House Divided!” We will all be in Charlottesville watching Bobby and Sean’s Hoos take on Rachel’s Hokies! While this game will determine who wins the ACC Coastal Division, it also should remind us again how fortunate we are to be Virginians. Here in the Commonwealth, the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech are winning on the field, and off. No matter what side you take in this rivalry, we can all agree that Coaches Mike London and Frank Beamer and their talented student-athletes are tremendous representativesof our state.
We hope you are taking time this weekend, too, to share laughs and good memories with family and friends that you love and care about. In this day and age the time to unwind and enjoy each other’s company is more precious than ever.Before we settled into the long holiday weekend we did ensure that one tradition continued. Below is the official 2011 Thanksgiving Proclamation issued by our office. If you have a moment, you may enjoy reading it. It reminds us that while all Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, only Virginians can take credit for starting the holiday! Another remarkable fact about our historic Commonwealth.
Again, Maureen and I wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving, and our best wishes for a joyful holiday season.
Bobby and Sean say Go Hoos. Rachel says Go Hokies…
…..and to humor their dad they are letting me add in, as always, Go Irish!
Sincerely,
Bob McDonnell
Governor of Virginia
Cross-posted at LynnRMitchell.com [3]
