Veterans honored at Virginia War Memorial during 70th annual ceremony

Hundreds attended the 70th annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond on Wednesday, according to NBC12. The event brought together veterans, active-duty service members, and military families to recognize those who have served and sacrificed for the country.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi, and military leaders were present at the ceremony, which included patriotic music and military traditions. The event also highlighted Virginians whose lives have been shaped by military service.

Virginia is home to over 670,000 veterans, as noted in the governor's Veterans Day proclamation. Maj. Gen. James Ring, Virginia's adjutant general, spoke about the lasting impact of military service on communities and the commonwealth.

Among those honored were Paul and Retsy Kitchen of Richmond, named Virginia’s Military Family of the Year. Their family has extensive military ties, with all four children and two sons-in-law serving in various branches, including the Navy SEALs and Marine Corps. The Kitchens emphasized the sacrifices made by military families, especially those awaiting loved ones' return from deployment.