WHEREAS, seventy-five years ago on June 12, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed into law the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act; and

WHEREAS, this Act enabled Virginia women to serve as permanent, regular members of not only the United States Army, but also the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force; and

WHEREAS, prior to the passage of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, women, except for nurses, served in the military only in times of war and their service was excluded from aircraft and vessels of the Navy that might engage in combat; and

WHEREAS, throughout Virginia’s and our nation’s history, women have served in and alongside the United States Armed Forces to secure and preserve freedom and liberty for all Americans and our allies; and

WHEREAS, American women have demonstrated great skill, sacrifice, and commitment to defending the principles upon which our nation was founded; and

WHEREAS, more than 35,000 American women served in World War I; 350,000 in World War II; more than 1,000 (in theater) in the Korean War; more than 7,500 (in theater) throughout the world during the Vietnam War; and, another 41,000 (in theater) were deployed during Operation Desert Storm, risking their lives to serve their country; and

WHEREAS, since 2013, American women began serving in direct ground combat across infantry, artillery, and other combat roles, and other historic firsts include the first female graduates of the Army Ranger School, the first female Marine to lead an infantry platoon, more than 600 Sailors and Marines serving in combat arms, and the first woman to lead a branch of the armed forces; and

WHEREAS, today, women continue to serve in the United States Armed Forces in times of conflict and peace with great honor and bravery in defense of our nation; and

WHEREAS, women veterans are the fastest-growing segment of Virginia’s veteran population with more than 108,000 women veterans calling the Commonwealth home, the highest percentage of women veterans of any state in the nation; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting to recognize the courage, honor, and dignity of the brave women who have served and continue to serve in defense of our nation and our Commonwealth;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize March 17-23, 2024, as WOMEN VETERANS WEEK in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.