FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2023
Commissioners Issue Proclamation Honoring Women Veterans Day
(Douglas County, Ore.) The Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Tom Kress, Chris Boice, and Tim Freeman issued a proclamation today at the Weekly Business Meeting calling upon all citizens of Douglas County to observe June 12, 2023, as Women Veterans Day. The proclamation was presented by Commissioner Chris Boice, on behalf of the Board and acknowledged that, “Douglas County salutes and honors the service of all women who have courageously and honorably served in the United States Armed Forces.” A copy of the live video presentation can be found on the Douglas County Government Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCountyeGovernment.
“I think it’s very important to have the conversation that women veterans are veterans. They are equal to and the same as all veterans. They deserve the same services and benefits available to all veterans. I had the chance to serve in the Oregon Legislature on the Veterans Committee, now fourteen years ago. At that time, services for women veterans at the VA and other sources were not where they needed to be. There was a great push back then to improve those services. I am very happy to see the progress happening, and that there is a continued dedication of efforts to improve services for them. I am glad we can do things like this proclamation today, that not only honors women veterans, but also brings additional awareness to their organizations, services, and programs. Thank you all for being here today,” stated Commissioner Tim Freeman.
Women Veterans Day is celebrated on June 12 each year across that nation, and Douglas County was honored to be one of the first counties in Oregon to celebrate the newly established Oregon holiday recognizing women veterans on June 12, 2019. Women Veterans Day is celebrated each year and honors the brave women who have served and thanks them and their families for their dedication, service, sacrifice and outstanding contributions on behalf of a grateful nation. They also wanted to thank and recognize the many local Veteran Service organizations that support, assist and advocate for our women veterans and their families. Commissioner Freeman presented Women Veterans Day proclamation certificates to: Douglas County Veterans Service Office - Mary Newman-Keyes; Douglas County Veterans Advisory Committee Members; Douglas County Veterans Forum - Jim Little; Wings of Love - Carol Hunt; Roseburg VA Hospital - Jessica Burnett, Jasmine Hatch and DeAnne Stanberry; Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians – Tribal Veteran Service Office, Robert Van Norman; Umpqua Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution – Tricia Powell, Jan Delano; Douglas County Sheriff’s Office – Deputy Monique Gatien and Deputy Bree Koch; Bridgewood Rivers – Community Relations – Connie Kloha (accepted the award on behalf of Marge Cook, 104 year-old Army Veteran); U.S. Army Veteran Dawnetta Loomis and the local Chapter of the American Women Veterans Association.
Since the American Revolution, women have proudly served and supported our nation’s military and since the inception of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901, women have formally served in the United States Armed Forces. June 12th is a significant date in history. As it marks the 75th Anniversary of the 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, which acknowledged the great contributions made by women in the military and finally granted them the right to serve as permanent, full and regular members of the United States Armed Forces and Reserves. During World War I, about 35,000 women officially served as nurses and support staff. In World War II, 140,000 women served in the U.S. Army and the Women's Army Corps performing critical jobs such as military intelligence, cryptography, and parachute rigging. Today, there are nearly 2 million women veterans living in the United States that have proudly served in United States Armed Forces.
Douglas County serves as home to over 1,500 women veterans, and recognizes the fact that women veterans are fastest growing segment of the veteran population in the United States. This proclamation is a reminder to our citizens to take the time to honor the women who have fearlessly and faithfully served our nation and to thank them and their families for their dedication, service, sacrifice and outstanding contributions on behalf of a grateful nation.
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Media Contact: Tamara Howell, Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist, Douglas County Public Affairs Office | Office: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: tjhowell@co.douglas.or.us
Proclamation and Photo Collage Attached. Individual photos available upon request