l. douglas wilder as governor of virginia, the first african-american governor in the country. the early leaders who guided this young republic through its infancy and into the mature global power that we are today came from here in virginia. now it is our collective duty to lead this great republic into a prosperous future. and i say to you, i think that virginians are ready. every day they show their exceptional character. a few of those exceptional virginians have joined us tonight. on december 8th, we were all reminded of the daily peril faced by our law enforcement officers in the state. on that day, virginia tech police officer derek kraus was at work protecting the students and faculty, including my daughter who's at virginia tech. during a routine traffic stop, derek kraus was shot and killed. derek was an iraq war veteran. he was a son, a husband, and a father of five. derek was a hero. derek as wife tina is here with us tonight. and tina, i want to say on behalf of a grateful commonwealth, we pledge to you that derek easily great sacrifice will never be forgotten. at