Bill Text: VA SJR306 | 2023 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending the Columbia Gas of Virginia's NiVets.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 5-3)
Status: (Passed) 2023-02-13 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ306ER) [SJR306 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2023-SJR306-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, the Columbia Gas of Virginia's NiVets consists of employees who are currently serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces and who remain committed to enhancing their communities through generous outreach; and
WHEREAS, the Columbia Gas of Virginia's NiVets (NiVets) is one of several of Columbia Gas's employee resource groups; the group enlightens and empowers veterans and their supporters to build strong partnerships and seek opportunities to enhance the quality of life of their friends and neighbors through good community stewardship; and
WHEREAS, NiVets is organized into regional chapters and participates in community service efforts focused on veterans' issues that impact individuals and communities; and
WHEREAS, NiVets coordinated a care package drive for deployed troops in the Virginia Army National Guard unit in Lynchburg; and
WHEREAS, NiVets has a tradition of supporting two women's shelters, Project Horizon in Lexington and New Directions in Staunton, during the organizations' annual Thanksgiving celebrations; during the COVID-19 pandemic, NiVets donated gift cards and cash to help fund the dinners; and
WHEREAS, NiVets also reached out to Project Horizon and asked if it needed supplies for everyday operations, then collected and donated toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, and cleaning supplies; and
WHEREAS, the Staunton NiVets collected school supplies to benefit students in Augusta County, Staunton, and Harrisonburg and received the Golden Bus Award for a successful Stuff the Bus campaign; and
WHEREAS, NiVets in the City of Lexington and in Giles County participated in the seasonal red kettle bell ringing to raise funds for the Salvation Army; in addition, the Staunton NiVets collected toys, clothes, and linens to benefit 70 children during the holidays through the Salvation Army's Angel Tree project; and
WHEREAS, in 2022, NiVets members participated in National Wreaths Across America Day and were among the 200 volunteers who placed wreaths on 800 headstones at the Staunton National Cemetery; there was also a group of NiVets who placed wreaths at Sunset Memorial Park in Chester, and Columbia Gas provided funding to donate 980 wreaths for the annual wreath laying; and
WHEREAS, NiVets helped the Columbia Gas's Eternal Flames raise funds for the Walk to End Alzheimer's by designing and constructing a fire pit that was raffled off, and as a result, the Walk to End Alzheimer's team exceeded its fundraising goal; and
WHEREAS, the Staunton-based Piedmont Got Your Six NiVets received recognition in the fall of 2022 from the United Way of Staunton, Augusta County, and Waynesboro for being the Overall Fundraising Community Leader in Volunteerism; and
WHEREAS, the Piedmont Got Your Six NiVets also received the 2021 Virginia Department of Energy Community Service Award for its dedication to community service and veterans' issues; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Columbia Gas of Virginia's NiVets for its dedication to community service and support for veterans and veterans' issues; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Columbia Gas of Virginia's NiVets as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the group's contributions to communities in the Commonwealth.
