1Recognizing the important role American women have played in
2defending freedom and democracy; and commending the brave
3servicewomen who currently serve this nation and this
4Commonwealth.

5WHEREAS, Approximately 21 million military veterans live in
6the United States and, according to the United States Census,
7approximately 1.6 million of those veterans are women; and

8WHEREAS, Of the 953,000 military veterans residing in this
9Commonwealth, 79,000 are women; and

10WHEREAS, Throughout American history, women have played a
11vital role in the preservation of democracy and basic human
12rights by their participation in the military; and

13WHEREAS, During the American Revolution, women often followed
14their husbands and provided services, such as cooking and
15nursing, to the troops; and

1WHEREAS, Mary Hays, better known as Molly Pitcher, followed
2her husband, who was a gunner in the Continental Army, and
3fought alongside him at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778; and

4WHEREAS, After the Revolutionary War, Molly Pitcher moved to
5Carlisle and, in 1822, the Commonwealth granted her a pension of
6$40 per year for the remainder of her life for her service to
7her country; and

8WHEREAS, Women actively participated in the American Civil
9War; and

10WHEREAS, In 1863, Annie Etheridge acted as a nurse for Union
11soldiers at the Battle of Gettysburg, caring for the wounded and
12dying, in the midst of intense military conflict; and

13WHEREAS, Annie Etheridge was awarded the Kearny Cross, a
14medal given to Union soldiers for significant acts of bravery in
15battle; and

16WHEREAS, In 1901, Congress officially established the Army
17Nurse Corps and, during World War I, over 21,000 army nurses
18served in United States military hospitals and overseas; and

19WHEREAS, In 1942, the Army established the Women's Army
20Auxiliary Corps, which was then converted to the Women's Army
21Corps in 1943; and

22WHEREAS, By the end of World War II, women were not only
23serving in the Army, but also in the Air Force, Navy, Marine
24Corps and Coast Guard; and

25WHEREAS, In 1976, women finally were admitted to military
26service academies; and

27WHEREAS, Today, women make up approximately 14.5% of all
28active duty military personnel, and women make up 39% of health
29care officers, 28% of administrative officers, 19% of
30intelligence officers and 18% of supply officers; and

1WHEREAS, Women are graduating from United States service
2academies and have achieved the rank of general and admiral
3across all branches of the United States military; and

4WHEREAS, In 2008, Ann Dunwoody became the first woman in
5United States military history to achieve the rank of four-star
6general in the Army; therefore be it

7RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
8important role American women have played in defending freedom
9and democracy; and be it further

10RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend the brave
11servicewomen who currently serve this nation and this
12Commonwealth.