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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 17, 2017 11:58 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Madeleine Dean |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Resolution Designating March 29, 2017 as “Female Veterans Day” in Pennsylvania |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce a resolution that would designate March 29, 2017 as “Female Veterans Day” in Pennsylvania. Currently, there more than two million female veterans in the United States, over 71,000 of whom reside in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Women have a long, courageous, and often under recognized history of providing military service to our country. Traditionally, women in the military served as nurses, typists, and clerks. Prior to and during the Civil War, women who wanted to serve on the front lines disguised themselves as men in order to serve our country. It was not until the end of World War I that women were permitted to join the military, and even then it was only to serve during wartime. With the passage of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act in 1948, women were finally allowed to serve as permanent members of the military and earn veterans’ benefits. The United States Military continues to evolve in recognizing the value of women in the military. In the last two decades we have witnessed: the first women to graduate from the Virginia Military Institute and the Citadel; the first women fighter pilots flying combat missions in Iraq; the first woman to command a Navy war ship; the first African-American woman to be promoted to Brigadier General; the first woman to be promoted to an army four-star general; and the first woman to be awarded a Silver Star for combat action. In 2015 alone, we observed the first female graduates of the Army’s elite Ranger School, as well as the announcement that women will be fully integrated into all positions, including combat positions, in the armed forces. These are just a few examples of the many accomplishments women have made while serving our country. Please join us, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission for Women, to remember, honor and celebrate the accomplishments and sacrifices of the courageous women who dedicated their lives to serving our country. |
Introduced as HR155