A bill to designate National Women Veterans Recognition Day in Connecticut now moves to the Senate floor for consideration, after advancing this week out of the Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. MD Rahman, D-Manchester, would proclaim June 12th of each year as National Women Veterans Recognition Day, to recognize the significant contributions of women who bravely and honorably served in the United States armed forces.
“Women have played critical roles in the military for decades, but their contributions have often been overlooked or underappreciated. Recognizing them ensures their service is properly honored alongside their male counterparts,” Rahman said. “Their courage, sacrifices, and unwavering dedication to our country deserve recognition and appreciation every day. This day will ensure their stories are told, their service is acknowledged, and their contributions are celebrated, inspiring future generations of women to continue breaking barriers and making history.”
According to the Army Women’s Foundation, June 12 is Women Veterans Recognition Day and each year on June 12, the observance is celebrated in recognition of the anniversary of the 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act signing.
The first Women Veterans Day was held on June 12, 2018, marking the 70th anniversary of the groundbreaking Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on June 12, 1948. That law enabled women to serve as permanent, regular members of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force.
In written testimony, Alison Weir, the executive director of the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, wrote, “it is more important than ever to recognize the contributions women have made to in service in the military, dating back to the revolution. It is not ‘woke’ to acknowledge the sacrifices women have made in service to the nation, and their role in ensuring the effectiveness and lethality of the U.S. Armed Forces.”
In other submitted testimony, Lesbia Nieves, a retired brigadier general of the Connecticut National Guard said that women already make up about 10% of Connecticut veterans. That number is growing, Nieves said.
“To take a day to honor and recognize our women veterans’ contributions to this great nation should be an honor for all to support,” she said. “These women veterans are our mothers, wives, grandmothers, sisters, friends, mentors, community leaders, civic leaders and heads of organizations.”
