Gov.-Elect Youngkin and Lt. Gov.-Elect Sears celebrate 246th birthday of Marine Corps

Youngkin and Sears, a Marine Corps veteran, met Charles Berton "Bert" Mulligan, a 101-year-old Marine Corps veteran, after a cake-cutting ceremony at the National Museum of the Marine Corps
Youngkin and Sears

Virginia Gov.-Elect Glenn Youngkin and Lt. Gov.-Elect Winsome Sears celebrated the 246th birthday of Marine Corps in Virginia on Wednesday. 

Youngkin and Sears, a Marine veteran, met veterans including Charles Berton "Bert" Mulligan, a 101-year-old Marine Corps veteran of World War II, following a cake-cutting ceremony at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

"You all felt it too, as I did, just the gravity of the service that the Marines have provided for this great country for so long," Youngkin told reporters after the ceremony.

"This is a special moment. One of the things that I really want to do as governor is press forward to say thank you to our veterans and that's why one of my big initiatives is to lower the taxes on their retirements, and to make sure that there's an easier transition from military service into their next chapter," he added.

Youngkin said he wants to make sure veterans of the armed forces stay in Virginia when making the transition to civilian life.

"One out of 11 Virginians is a veteran and I want to make sure that number not only just stays at one out of 11, but I'd sure like to see one out of 10 or one out of 9, because our military folks make Virginia so much better," he said.