Delegate David LaRock presented a proclamation of the Virginia General Assembly for the Navy Reserve centennial to Rear Adm. Thomas W. Luscher, deputy chief of Navy Reserve, July 7 in Leesburg.

"We were happy to do this for the Navy Reserve, as the Navy means so much to Virginia," said LaRock, who sponsored the proclamation.

Delegate Randy Minchew, chief co-patron of the resolution in the assembly added, "No one loves the Navy more than Virginia. We have always had a special relationship with the Navy, and it continues into the future."

"We celebrate the centennial of gallant service by U.S. Navy reservists-patriots from all walks of life, who provide a quarter of the manpower for the world's greatest naval force, said Senator Dick Black, a former Marine officer who served on many Navy ships during his long career.

"It was an honor serving with those Sailors and naval officers in battle, and it is fitting that we honor the fine men and women who have served, for the past 100 years, in the United States Navy Reserve," Black said.

The United States Navy Reserve was established in 1915. For the past 100 years, Navy Reserve Sailors have participated in every major conflict of the United States. More than 300,000 served in World War I. More than 2 million served in World War II, including former Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and George H. W. Bush. In Korea, 130,000 served. One out of seven Sailors serving in Vietnam. More than 22,000 mobilized for the first Gulf War and 1,500 served in Bosnia and Kosovo.

More than 70,000 Navy Reserve mobilizations have occurred since September 2001 to support the Global War on Terrorism. Today, reservists train with, and are closely integrated with active-duty military forces.

LaRock was the sponsor of House Joint Resolution 941 commending the United States Navy Reserve. The resolution was passed unanimously by both the Virginia Assembly and Senate. House patrons were: Car, Cole, DeSteph, Edmunds, Fariss, Futrell, Elsel, Hope, Knight, Kory, Landes, Leftwich, Minchew, Morris, Morrisey, Ramadan, Rust, Spruill, Taylor, Villanueva, Webert, Wilt, and Yancey. Senate patrons were: Black, Carrico, Deeds, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Howell, Ruff, Vogel, and Wagner.