Hampton mayor proclaims honor for Major Delaney C. Williams, citing historic VMI commissioning

Mayor George E. Wallace read a proclamation Oct. 22 honoring Major Delaney C. Williams for his military career and civic contributions, including his 1988 commissioning from the Virginia Military Institute. The proclamation states Williams was the first African American officer commissioned into the U.S. Marine Corps from VMI and details deployments and leadership roles through a 26-year Marine career; it is signed by Mayor George E. Wallace and dated Oct. 22, 2014.

Major Delaney C. Williams, a retired U.S. Marine and operations research analyst at the Department of Veterans Affairs, accepted the award and thanked the council, his family, and community mentors from Phoebus High School. "I do, accept this, award, in behalf of all the Veterans in, Hampton Roads area," he said, noting his early experiences in Phoebus JROTC set him on his career path. Council members also read congratulatory letters from U.S. Representatives Rob Wittman and Tim Kaine during the ceremony.