Bill Text: NY K00558 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim Monday, June 12, 2023, as Women Veterans Recognition Day in the State of New York

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-30 - adopted [K00558 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-K00558-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 558

BY: M. of A. Hunter

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        Monday, June 12, 2023, as Women Veterans Recognition
        Day in the State of New York

  WHEREAS, Seventy-five years ago, on June 12, 1948,  President  Harry
S.  Truman  signed into law the Women's Armed Services Act of 1948 (P.L.
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, When the draft ended in 1973, women  represented  just  two
percent  of  the enlisted forces and eight percent of the officer corps;
today sixteen percent of the  enlisted  force  are  women  and  nineteen
percent of women are in the officer corps; 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 two million  women  veterans  in
the  United  States,  representing  10  percent  of  the total veteran's
population; and

  WHEREAS, There are approximately 714,00 veterans in New York  state,
8.8 percent are women veterans; 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,  Governor  Hochul  named  the  Reverend  Viviana DeCohen on
Tuesday, November 9, 2019,  as  the  Director  of  the  New  York  State
Division  of  Veterans' Services; DeCohen is a veteran who served in the
United States Marine Corps, is the  former  commissioner  of  the  Mount
Vernon  City  Veterans'  Service  Agency  and  associate pastor at Mount
Vernon Heights Congregational Church;  she  is  also  a  member  of  the
American   Legion  Post  1038  in  Valhalla,  New  York,  Women  Marines
Association, and the Navy League; 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 died in service of our  great  country;
and  most  proudly to commemorate the 75th 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
Kathy Hochul to proclaim  Monday,  June  12,  2023,  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 Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York; and Viviana M. DeCohen, Director of the New York State Division of
Veterans' Services.