Virginia celebrates first women Veterans Week in the Commonwealth

RICHMOND – Governor Ralph Northam announced today that Virginia’s inaugural Women Veterans Week will be celebrated March 18-24. Women Veterans Week will be celebrated the third full week of March in succeeding years, as a time to honor the service and sacrifice of the Commonwealth’s female veterans. This commemorative week occurs during Women’s History Month, which serves as an annual declared observance of the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society.

“Throughout the history of our Commonwealth and our nation, women have served with honor and distinction as a vital part of our military,” said Governor Northam. “Virginia is proud to be home to more than 100,000 women veterans, the highest percentage of female veterans of any state in the Nation. As a veteran myself, I have had the opportunity to serve side-by-side with women both in combat zones and on base back home. I commend Senator Jennifer Wexton and Delegate Kathleen Murphy for leading the effort to introduce this Women Veterans Week resolution and their colleagues in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates for their overwhelming support.”

“I join with Governor Northam in celebrating Women Veterans Week in Virginia,” said Carlos Hopkins, Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs. “The women we honor are our wives, daughters, mothers, and grandmothers. They are our sisters, our aunts, our neighbors and co-workers. Many are also military spouses. Not only have they unselfishly served our military, they have returned to the civilian world as leaders in their communities, in the public and private sectors, and as the bedrock of their families. Our Commonwealth values their contributions and we want to do everything we can to provide them with the recognition and benefits they have rightfully earned.”

“Virginia proactively supports its women veteran community, by hosting an annual Virginia Women Veterans Summit,” said Annie Walker, Director of the Veterans Education, Transition, and Employment division of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. “The theme of this year’s Summit is Change Makers & Trailblazers: The Power of Being a Woman-The Strength of Being a Veteran. The summit will bring together nationally recognized speakers and include discussions on a variety of issues facing women veterans. We encourage all women veterans to register and attend.”

Complete information about the summit, registration details, and special events commemorating Women Veterans Week may be found at www.dvs.virginia.gov.