Certificate of Recognition

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution in the Governor of the
Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

ARCHIVES WEEK

WHEREAS, the history of accomplishments of the Commonwealth of
Virginia and its citizens are represented and can be found in the documents and
records created by and for the citizens of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Virginia's recorded documents date from the first English
settlement at Jamestown and are among our nation's oldest, and Virginia's history is
widely recognized for its richness and diversity; and

WHEREAS, individuals and organizations at the sate, local and federal levels
and in the private sector work diligently to preserve our Commonwealth's history and
to make Virginia's archived records available to the public; and

WHEREAS, our Commonwealth's archived records allow Virginians to study
the history of the Old Dominion, to learn from the efforts and actions of our
predecessors, to trace familial lineages, to understand the beginnings and evolution of
Virginia's localities and communities, to confirm individual and property rights and
ownership and to maintain laws while celebrating the history of our Commonwealth;
and

WHEREAS, I encourage all Virginians to become more familiar with the
archival institutions in their communities and throughout our Commonwealth, and I
applaud the efforts of those who maintain these valuable cultural resources for our
benefit and for the benefit of future generations;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mark R. Warner, do hereby recognize
October 12-18, 2003, as ARCHIVES WEEK in the COMMONWEALTH OF
VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

Signed by the Governor and Secretary of the Commonwealth