Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger marked Veterans Day on November 11 by honoring generations of American service members and highlighting the military community’s importance to the Commonwealth. Her statement emphasized Virginia’s large veteran population, the sacrifices made by military families and her commitment to supporting veterans through healthcare, resources and employment opportunities.
Spanberger’s complete statement read:
Today, and every day, I join Virginians across the Commonwealth in honoring the generations of Americans who have answered the call to serve with extraordinary courage, dedication, and professionalism. Virginia is home to hundreds of thousands of Veterans, active-duty service members, and military families who know the weight of that sacrifice and the enduring meaning of service.
On Veterans Day, we renew our commitment to making sure that those who have served have our strongest possible support and can access the healthcare, resources, and job opportunities they’ve earned. We are also reminded of the families who stand beside our veterans, making sacrifices of their own, and providing the support and encouragement that help those in uniform transition back to civilian life.
To every Veteran, and to every military family represented across Virginia, thank you. Your service matters. Your sacrifices matter. And your future here in Virginia matters. Our Commonwealth and our country are forever indebted to you.
Virginia is home to more than 670,000 veterans, according to the governor’s official Veterans Day proclamation for 2026. The Commonwealth also has a substantial active-duty military presence, with major installations and military-connected communities contributing to the state’s economy and population.
Spanberger’s statement specifically recognizes active-duty personnel alongside veterans. That distinction reflects Virginia’s role as a major military state, with service members and their families living throughout the Commonwealth, including communities surrounding installations and federal defense facilities.
The governor’s emphasis on healthcare and earned benefits is consistent with her congressional record. Spanberger voted for the bipartisan Honoring Our PACT Act, which expanded VA healthcare and disability benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances during military service.
The PACT Act addressed toxic exposure among veterans from the Vietnam War, Gulf War and post-September 11 military operations. Spanberger’s campaign materials identify her support for the legislation as a central part of her record on veterans’ healthcare.
Spanberger’s congressional record also includes a bipartisan bill providing recycled federal computers to veterans seeking new employment opportunities. The measure was signed into law during the Biden administration, according to her campaign’s official record of veterans-related legislation.
Her November 11 statement’s reference to “job opportunities they’ve earned” aligns with that employment initiative. Veterans transitioning to civilian careers may seek to apply military training and experience in government, private-sector or nonprofit positions, making employment access a recurring component of veterans’ policy.
Spanberger has also issued Veterans Day statements in previous years. In 2025, as governor-elect, she pledged to protect veterans’ healthcare, benefits and job opportunities, while emphasizing that military families make sacrifices alongside those who serve.
In her 2024 Veterans Day statement as a member of Congress, Spanberger highlighted her support for the PACT Act and the expansion of benefits for Virginia veterans. Her previous statements focused on ensuring that former service members receive healthcare and support from the federal government.
The governor’s 2026 proclamation also recognizes military families as essential contributors to the Commonwealth. It notes that families face unique challenges associated with military service, including deployments, relocations and periods of separation.
Spanberger’s statement places the responsibility for veterans’ support within both state and federal government. Her November 11 message does not announce a new legislative proposal, but reiterates a commitment to healthcare, resources and employment for those who have served and for the families supporting them.
The governor concluded by telling Virginia’s veterans and military families that their service, sacrifices and future in the Commonwealth matter. Her documented record includes support for expanded veterans’ healthcare and employment measures, while her 2026 statement extends that commitment to the broader military-connected population across Virginia.