First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin announces October 2022 Spirit of Virginia Award recipient

The First Lady gives remarks at the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company Spirit of Virginia Award presentation. Photo by Shealah Craighead Photography.

CHINCOTEAGUE, VA – On October 21, 2022, Governor Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin presented the Spirit of Virginia Award to the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, which provides twenty-four-hour fire and emergency medical response to the citizens and visitors of Chincoteague Island. The company also provides fire and emergency medical response to Assateague Island and assists the United States Coast Guard with search and rescue cases. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company owns and manages the world-famous Chincoteague wild ponies and puts on the annual Chincoteague Island Pony Swim.

“First responders are on the front lines of caring for Virginians and exemplify the spirit of giving,” said First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin. “For close to 100 years, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company has served its community and established a tradition through its annual pony swim. Thanks for saving lives and enriching the livelihoods on our Eastern Shore.”

“It is a great honor to see the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company awarded the Spirit of Virginia Award and to know this award has been made possible by the community of Chincoteague: the elected officials, those that volunteer at the local carnival, and those in various other departments, agencies and civic organizations which make the carnival and pony swim such a great success, thereby helping to provide emergency and life-saving equipment for Chincoteague Island. This community embodies the Spirit of Virginia,” said E. Bryan Rush, the director of emergency services for the Town of Chincoteague.

Pictured: Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company Chief Robert “Bobby” Lappin with the Governor and First Lady. Photo by Shealah Craighead Photography.

The Governor and First Lady were in Chincoteague for a second time after attending the 2022 pony swim. Governor Youngkin is the first sitting Governor in nearly a decade to visit the community.

The Spirit of Virginia Award recognizes unique qualities and standout achievements across the Commonwealth and salutes Virginians for their uncommon contributions to private industries, education, culture, the arts, and philanthropy. The inaugural Spirit of Virginia Award was presented to the National Center for Healthy Veterans in Altavista, VA, in March, followed by Jill’s House in Vienna, VA, in May; Hope’s Legacy Equine Rescue in Afton, VA, in July; and An Achievable Dream, a full K-12 education program that operates six schools in Virginia in partnership with Newport News Public Schools, Virginia Beach City Public Schools and Henrico County Public Schools, in September.

Governor Youngkin and the First Lady will name one more Spirit of Virginia Award recipient for 2022. Learn more about the award here. To learn more about Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, visit their website. All recipients of the Spirit of Virginia Award will be recognized at the end of the year at Virginia’s Executive Mansion.

Follow the First Lady on Facebook and Instagram as she celebrates Virginians all across the Commonwealth.