Albemarle Supervisors mark Veterans Day 

There are no local government meetings on Monday due to Veterans Day but the Albemarle Board of Supervisors marked the occasion at their meeting on November 6. Scottsville District Supervisor Michael Pruitt is a veteran and he read from a proclamation.

“Throughout our nation’s history, the United States of America has called on its citizens in uniform to serve and protect our national security,” Pruitt said. “And whereas at home and abroad, generations of American patriots have defended the freedoms and American values of equality, democracy and justice for all.” 

President Woodrow Wilson established Armistice Day on November 11, 1919, one year after fighting stopped European conflict known as World War One. The day became a federal holiday in 1938, marking today’s celebration the 86th annual event. 

In recent years, Albemarle County has made much about the role veterans play in local government and the proclamation reflects this spirit.

“Many veterans continue to serve their country in public schools and government as public officials, teachers, police officers, fire rescue and other professions, providing services to all community members,” Pruitt continued. “And whereas with profound debt of gratitude, we especially recognize the local veterans in Albemarle county for their continued service.”

Albemarle County is also putting a lot of resources toward cultivating the defense sector in the community, spending $58 million in 2023 to purchase 462 acres around the Rivanna Station military base. Colonel Eric Haas has been the commander of the National Ground Intelligence Center since July 2023. 

“As many of you know, Albemarle county has a distinct place in American history and deep ties to the veteran community,” Colonel Haas said. “Many residents of Albemarle county responded to the calls by the Continental Congress for support and joined the nascent Continental army when it was founded In June of 1775, a full year before the Declaration of Independence signing.”

Haas comes from a military background and is also married to someone in the U.S. Air Force. He said that each of the services seek to protect the foundational principles and values of the country.

“These values are built upon a bedrock of service to our Constitution and the inherent ideals that are found written in that document and ratified by each of the individual states,” Haas continued. 

Pruitt served in the U.S. Navy and was motivated by September 11, 2001 when he was in fifth grade. 

“For almost my entire life, we have been embroiled in warfare abroad,” Pruitt said. “We were still embroiled in that same conflict when I was graduating high school and getting ready to figure out what I was going to do with my life and decided that I was going to pursue a career in the Navy, which I did for eight years, and I’m very proud of it.”

Pruitt noted that the force is entirely voluntary and that as a result many people do not understand the high toll engaging in warfare can bring to a person’s mind. He said the country must continue to invest in Veterans’ Affairs and remember those who served the other 364 days of the year. 

“I am very proud of the work we do in our county with our Human Services Department to kind of help bridge some of these gaps,” Pruitt said. “And there is still so much more to be done because we are a community that it is easy for us to forget the weight that people are carrying.” 

Pruitt said there are too many suicides and too many people struggling to reintegrate into society.

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