Delegate Matt Fariss

Thank you so much for allowing me to continue to serve you as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 59th District. It's an honor to represent the people of Albemarle, Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell and Nelson Counties. This community means so much to my family, and I am grateful to serve. I look forward to getting back to Richmond soon to work on the issues that matter to the people of this district: creating a better pro-business economic situation, protecting our 2nd amendment rights, strengthening our children's education systems, and keeping our district safe. Again, Crystal and I want to thank you for your support, it means the world to us.

I was also very pleased to see that Virginians voted for a fiscally responsible and conservative majority. The House of Delegates retained its strong Republican majority, and the Senate remains in GOP control.

Veteran’s Day is very important part of our American history. My son, Bobby, has been studying the significance on the day and has recently enlightened me to a few facts I was not aware of. World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Congress officially recognized the end of World War I on June 4, 1926 with a day dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of servicemen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, they amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans.” Later that year, on October 8th, President Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation".

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was clear that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Ford signed a law which returned the observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978.

The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Those who have worn the uniform of the United States have been prepared to sacrifice life and limb for the sake of our people and values.  We owe them a debt of gratitude greater than we can ever pay back.  Veterans Day is not just a holiday for current veterans.  On this day, Virginians too should be thinking about our future veterans - today's men and women serving both overseas and at home.  We need to ensure we will give them the tools necessary to reintegrate and thrive in the civilian world once they have taken off the uniform. God bless our vets and God bless America.

If you have any concerns, questions, comments or issues that I or my Aide, Jenna, can help you with, please contact us at (434)821-5929 or email at [email protected]

Thank You!