WHEREAS, the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America have shown the highest form of citizenship and made major contributions through the services they have performed in the defense of our great nation and her cause toward the preservation of the freedoms we hold so dear; and

        WHEREAS, the service performed by millions of gallant Americans, including thousands of Idahoans, demonstrates our citizens’ willingness to meet the challenges of outside forces who wish to subjugate our nation through armed conflict, including acts of terrorism; and

        WHEREAS, on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of November 1918, an armistice was signed ending World War I; and since that day plays such a significant part in our nation’s heritage, November 11 of each year has been designated by Congress and the Idaho Legislature to be Veterans Day; and

        WHEREAS, Veterans Day is a day to recognize and honor the veterans of World War I and those millions who served our nation since that time whose military service has had a profound effect on history, and it is a day to rededicate ourselves to Abraham Lincoln’s call “to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan;” and

        WHEREAS, Americans, Idahoans and all citizens of the free world celebrate the contributions of our veterans in many ways;

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES E. RISCH, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim Saturday, November 11, 2006, to be

Veterans Day

In Idaho, and I call upon all our citizens to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies in honor of our men and women who have served this country so willingly to preserve the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to fly the flag; and to visit all our veterans, especially those who are hospitalized, and let them know we appreciate their great sacrifices.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this 9^th day of November in the year of our Lord two-thousand and six and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-first and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred seventeenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE