HJ710: Celebrating the life of Warren Ira Cikins.
WHEREAS, Warren Ira Cikins of Alexandria, an accomplished public and civil servant who served in local, state, and all three branches of the federal government, died on December 13, 2014; and
WHEREAS, Warren Cikins graduated cum laude from Harvard University and earned a master’s degree from the Kennedy School of Government; he honorably served his country as a member of the United States Army for several years, specializing in decryption; and
WHEREAS, in the 1950s, Warren Cikins began his career in government service working for a United States representative from Arkansas and later served as an assistant to United States senators from California and Maine; and
WHEREAS, in the 1960s, Warren Cikins served as an executive assistant to the special assistant to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson; he then served as a senior staff member of the Brookings Institution for almost 20 years, before becoming a consultant to two United States Supreme Court justices; and
WHEREAS, spanning two terms from 1975 to 1980, Warren Cikins offered his leadership and expertise to local government as the Mount Vernon District representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; and
WHEREAS, as a supervisor, Warren Cikins proudly helped establish the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, the Route One Task Force on Human Services, and task forces on youth needs, and he served as a member and chair of numerous local boards, committees, and commissions; and
WHEREAS, Warren Cikins also wrote speeches for the Governor of New Mexico and worked to inspire and educate future leaders as a part-time political science professor at George Washington University, American University, and Nova Southeastern University; and
WHEREAS, Warren Cikins will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his loving wife of 50 years, Sylvia; sons, Dean and Neil, and their spouses, Andrea and Traci; dear grandchildren, Emme, Tori, and Maya; and numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Warren Ira Cikins, a dedicated public and civil servant to Fairfax County, the Commonwealth, and the United States; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Warren Ira Cikins as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 710
WHEREAS, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, by proclamation, declared May 1, 1958, as the first Law Day, stating that “it is fitting that the people of this Nation should remember with pride and vigilantly guard the great heritage of liberty, justice and equality under law which our forefathers bequeathed to us”; and
WHEREAS, in 1961, the United States Congress, by joint resolution, designated May 1 as the official date for celebrating Law Day in the United States; and
WHEREAS, President John F. Kennedy in 1961 stated that “the objectives of Law Day, USA, are to urge Americans to rededicate themselves to the ideals of equality and justice under law in their relations with each other and with other nations; to cultivate that respect for law which is vital in a democratic society; and to foster a full understanding and appreciation of our liberties and of the legal and judicial institutions which protect them”; and
WHEREAS, President Kennedy urged “that public bodies, educational institutions, the legal profession, civic and service organizations, and the media of information take the lead in sponsoring and participating in educational undertakings and other appropriate means to give effect to the objectives of this national observance”; and
WHEREAS, every United States President since 1958 and many governors and state legislatures have issued annual Law Day proclamations supporting a common theme; and
WHEREAS, the Law Day 2015 theme is “Magna Carta: Symbol of Freedom Under Law,” marking the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta, an international symbol of the rule of law and a foundation of many of the rights and freedoms Americans hold dear; and
WHEREAS, Law Day programs should promote the rule of law through specific civic activities throughout the Commonwealth, including special events for K-12 students and other education and outreach programs in schools and communities; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Law Foundation and Virginia Bar Association sponsor “The Rule of Law Project,” which teaches children the relevance and benefits of the rule of law in the United States and throughout the world; the Robert H. Smith Center for the Constitution at James Madison’s Montpelier sponsors “We the People – The Citizen and the Constitution” for middle and high school students; and Fairfax County Public Schools includes Law Day on its calendar of noteworthy events; and
WHEREAS, in celebration of the importance of Law Day, citizens of the Commonwealth and the United States are encouraged to recommit themselves to the rule of law and to uphold the fundamental principles enshrined in the nation’s founding documents; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate May 1, in 2015 and in each succeeding year, as Law Day in Virginia; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit copies of this resolution to the American Bar Association, the Virginia State Bar, Virginia Bar Association, and the Virginia School Boards Association so that members of these organizations may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it
RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this day on the General Assembly’s website.