The 2024 Virginia Rally Day at the Capitol assembled on Tues, January 9th, with COS Senior Advisor Rick Santorum attending as guest speaker to an audience of several COS Virginia volunteers and state legislators.
After Rick Santorum's excellent speech, six members of the COS Virginia team were honored with the Patriot Pin.
While State Director John Dahmen and Regional Captain Scott Camden read the details of each of the awardees' persevering work, Rick Santorum presented them with the Patriot Pin.
Following are the individual speeches Dahmen and Camden read:
Gary Seyster became a District Captain in January 2018 and stepped up, when asked, to Regional Captain in March 2022. In addition to his Regional Captain functions of constantly recruiting District Captains, staying focused on the regional politics, and his continuous engagements with COS on all levels, Gary was instrumental in the 2023 election cycle by promoting three pro-COS candidates in his region. Gary sets the example of being an active citizen and has gone above what is required of him in his position.
Katharina Everett first stepped forward as a volunteer in November 2021 and has demonstrated exemplary initiative to grow her District team, build strong working relationships with her state legislators, and establish COS as an influential political organization with the Prince William County GOP Committee. Ms. Everett’s actions reflect major credit to herself, the Virginia State Team, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Carroll Childers stepped up in October of 2022 as our State Veterans Coalition Director. As a retired two star General, it was a logical position for Carroll to assume. In the brief time that Carroll has been with COS, he has participated by being Day Captain or volunteer at the last two State Fairs no less than 10 of the 20 days we hosted a booth. Carroll has also participated in multiple Gun Show COS booths and the 2023 election effort by door knocking multiple days in the primaries. Carroll brings great energy and experience to the Virginia Convention of States team and continues to be a patriot of the United States.
James Peters joined the Virginia Team in July of 2021 as a District Captain in House District 25 and then immediately stepped up to Regional Captain in September of 2021. James has been instrumental in building the Shenandoah Region and keeping a pulse on the legislators in his Region. James has hosted multiple Gun Shows, breakfasts, and town halls throughout his Region to grow his team. From the very beginning, James has shown nothing but determination in spreading the word of COS.
David Raymond came to Convention of States in February of 2021. During his time as Event Coordinator, Dave has been key to the success of multiple events in Virginia. Dave has planned two phenomenally successful Virginia State Fair COS booths for 2022 and 2023. These were two ten-day volunteer events that collected over 2,300 petitions that involved over one hundred volunteers. Dave has also coordinated our last two General Assembly session events which included multiple days for COS supporters and petition signers to visit their Legislator with a COS leader during session. The General Assembly visits have encouraged patriots to engage with their legislators. Dave has also coordinated the Virginia Convention of States Leaders conference for the 2022 and 2023 cycle with over fifty leaders in attendance at each conference. Dave has been very generous with his time and money and has gone far above what is expected as a State Event Coordinator. Dave has been an invaluable reason for Virginia and a key factor in Virginia receiving the Convention of States State Team of the Year for 2023.
Phillip Whitaker came to Convention of State as a District Captain Team member in House District 27 in March of 2022. Phillip quickly stepped up and became Legislative Liaison in June of 2022. Phillip was our face and voice for the 2022 General Assembly session by speaking at the Senate subcommittee meeting in favor of the COS resolution. Phillip has an impressive understanding of Article V and shares this willingly with the legislators in his regions. Phillip was the point man for the 2023 primary and general elections in the Chesterfield and Petersburg area in a successful campaign to flip a district previously hard-no on COS. Phillip has been a great asset to the Virginia Team and demonstrates his patriotism and faith in our Constitution with every opportunity.
If you would like to join this Patriotic Team of Volunteers to end government overreach, click here.
