VA VIPs' Greeting for 2026 Chinese New Year Celebration

Xin nian huai le! I'm James Walkinshire, I represent the 11th district in the United States House of Representatives. Thank you, appreciate that. I just wanted to come and wish everyone a very happy Lunar New Year. This year is the year of the horse, which symbolizes energy and progress, which is exactly what we need in our community and in our country. I want to thank the organizers of this incredible event. I've been coming for many, many years and I want to thank you all for bringing this incredible celebration of culture to Fairfax. Hi, I'm Congressman Suhas Subramaniam. I just want to give greetings to the Chinese community here. Happy Lunar New Year. I want to thank you for all your contributions to our community. I look forward to supporting you and giving you a voice in the U.S. Congress and making sure we support human rights all around the world, including in China. The office of U.S. Senator Mark Warner. I wanted to present these remarks from the Senator. I'll be brief, I promise. Greetings to all who gathered for the 17th annual Chinese New Year Festival hosted by the Asian community. I commend the Asian Community Service Center for bringing so many from Washington, from the Washington metropolitan area together for a day of cultural performances, crafts, activities, and food. I hope that you will embrace the adventure, vitality, and momentum that the Year of the Horse will usher into each of our lives. May 2026 bring you good fortune and prosperity. Sincerely. Thank you for allowing us to be part of every celebration of belly making in Fairfax County and the commonplace. This is an exciting year and I wish all of you a very successful, healthy, and prosperous year ahead. In the context of the Year of the Horse, I was raised in the Midwest. Good pioneer stuff. When I think about the horse for me culturally from the Midwest, it meant so much on the farm, but I know what it means in battle and warriors. We believe that that diversity makes us stronger and makes us more richly caring for each other. Filial piety is the value this year and it's a very important value. So really encourage our young people to practice it and I think we'll be stronger if we do. I'm a former caregiver to both of my parents. Being able to hear what their life was like and it really is about generational transfer. Not just of money, but of care and love and the essence of who we are. To me there's nothing more important than family and filial piety. I'm here with my daughter and we spend so much time with my parents and her grandparents. Filial piety, which teaches respect, responsibility, and care for families and elders. These values are not only timeless, but they are universal. And they remind us that strong communities come from strong ties, be they through family or friendship.