Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive Day

WHEREAS, on August 14, 1945, the people of the United States received word of the end of World War II, and on that day people in the United States and around the world greeted the news of the Allies’ noble victory with joyous celebration, humility and spiritual reflection; and

WHEREAS, we pay tribute to all of the remarkable citizens who bravely served our country in that time of peril as they fought fearlessly to defend our freedoms, ensure our continued safety and promote liberty and democracy; and

WHEREAS, while no words are fully adequate to express our gratitude or repay the debt we owe them, the citizens of our great state are proud to join in the “Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive” celebration that is held annually at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo; and

WHEREAS, the courage, dedication, self-sacrifice and compassion of the World War II generation is alive today and evident in the United States Armed Forces, including the men and women currently in service in Afghanistan and around the world:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim August 10, 2013, as

Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive Day

in the state of Alabama and encourage all citizens to reflect upon the men and women who took incredible risks to protect our nation and way of life.