| R 397 |
| 2023 -- H 6501 Enacted 06/08/2023 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING JUNE 12, 2023, TO BE "WOMEN VETERANS APPRECIATION DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Shanley, Lima, Kazarian, Morales, Chippendale, Batista, and Kennedy |
| Date Introduced: June 08, 2023 |
| WHEREAS, Since the formation of the United States Army Nurse Corps in 1901, women |
| have served our nation in the military in an official capacity, and informally, they have served |
| since the inception of our nation’s military during the American Revolution; and |
| WHEREAS, Women Veterans Appreciation Day is the anniversary of the day the |
| Women’s Armed Services Integration Act was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on |
| June 12, 1948. Prior to then, only women nurses could serve in the regular and reserve forces |
| during peacetime; and |
| WHEREAS, Historically, women have made wide-ranging contributions to our country's |
| military and to securing and preserving freedom and liberty for the people of the United States |
| and our allies; and |
| WHEREAS, During the American Revolution and the Civil War, women disguised |
| themselves as men in order to fight, and in World War I, approximately 35,000 women served as |
| nurses and support staff. During World War II, 140,000 women served in the Women’s Army |
| Corps (WACs) performing critical jobs, such as military intelligence, cryptography and parachute |
| rigging, and in Afghanistan, women were combat helicopter pilots, hunted the Taliban, and held a |
| variety of combat and supervisory roles; and |
| WHEREAS, Currently, there are more than two million women Veterans in the United |
| States, Puerto Rico, and Territories/Foreign who are pushing boundaries and taking on |
| groundbreaking roles; and |
| WHEREAS, We Rhode Islanders, as well as all Americans, believe it to be essential that |
| all the women who wear the uniform of the United States Armed Services know that they are |
| appreciated and never far from our thoughts and prayers; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| proclaims June 12, 2023, to be "Women Veterans Appreciation Day" in gratitude and recognition |
| for the critical role and dauntless service of women in the United States Armed Forces, and to |
| honor their sacrifices while valiantly serving our nation; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the State of Rhode Island Office of Veterans |
| Services, and the Rhode Island Veterans Home. |
| ======== |
| LC003174 |
| ======== |