Honor Women Veterans Day

625-80th Congress); this law ensured that women would have a permanent place in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines; and WHEREAS, The late Senator Margaret Chase Smith from Maine authorized the legislation that President Truman signed; the Act remains the most significant legislation pertaining to women's military service and is the cornerstone for policies and regulations affecting women; and WHEREAS, Women have always answered the call to duty, serving the United States of America with integrity and respect; and WHEREAS, Women make up nearly 15% of today's active duty military and 18% of those who serve in the United States Guard and Reserve Forces are women; and WHEREAS, Women from New York who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States have made countless contributions and tremendous sacrifices; and WHEREAS, It is important to recognize the contributions of New York women veterans, and to educate the people of New York concerning the role of women in our military; and WHEREAS, Women serving in the military continue to demonstrate their professionalism, dedication, leadership, and skills, as well as the patriotism and love for their country as they mobilize in record numbers to support Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Inherent Resolve and the Global War on Terrorism; and WHEREAS, Today, there are more than 2 million women veterans in the United States, representing 8.4% of the total veterans population; and WHEREAS, Among the Armed Forces, there are over 60,000 women veterans in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Women who have served this country in uniform, during wartime and peacetime service, have earned our respect and thanks; and WHEREAS, In 1998, the State of New York dedicated The New York State Women Veterans Memorial located in Albany, New York, to honor the 1.2 million women in military service over the past 200 years; and WHEREAS, In January 2013, an announcement was made by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta that the military would be lifting the policy against women in combat roles; and WHEREAS, The first woman to serve aboard a Navy fast-attack submarine reported to duty on the USS Minnesota in January of 2015; and WHEREAS, The American Legion elected its first female national commander at their 99th National Convention in August of 2017; Commander Denise Rohn served on active duty as a stock control and accounting specialist and repair parts specialist course instructor at Fort Lee, Virginia, where she was honorably discharged in 1976; and WHEREAS, The American Legion Department of New York elected US Navy veteran Rena M. Nessler at the 99th Convention in Syracuse, New York, in July of 2017; Commander Nessler served from 1969 to 1972, and was honorably discharged as a yeoman third class; she is the first woman to hold the position of Commander of The American Legion Department of New York; and WHEREAS, General Ann Dunwoody, the first women in U.S. military history to achieve the rank of four-star general, has been named as the

2019 recipient of the Sylvanus Thayer Award; the medal will be awarded at a ceremony at West Point on October 10th, where she will be honored with a parade by the corps of cadets prior to the ceremony; and WHEREAS, Women Veterans Recognition Day is a living testament to the courage of so many; from its broad base of shared concern and responsive endeavor, there yet emanates the current of valiant tradition and the irrepressible tide of freedom; and WHEREAS, Through its avowed commitment to those who have served in the cause of America's Freedom, Women Veterans Recognition Day does so unselfishly advance the spirit of the united purpose and shared concern which is the unalterable manifestation of our American experience; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay tribute to the bravery, patriotism and sacrifice made by women, both those still living and those who did in service of our great country; and most proudly to commemorate the 701st Anniversary of the signing of the Women's Armed Forces Service Act of 1948, which later came to be known as Women Veterans Recognition Day; and to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim Wednesday, June 12, 2019, as Women Veterans Recognition Day in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York; and Past Department Commander Rene M. Nessler, The American Legion Department of New York.