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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Women have proudly served their country
3throughout the history of the United States, whether in the
4disguise of a male soldier during the American Revolution and
5Civil War, as a nurse in World War I, as a combat helicopter
6pilot in Afghanistan or in another of many additional roles
7throughout the years; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Women have formally been part of the United
9States Armed Forces since the inception of the Army Nurse
10Corps in 1901 but have informally served since the inception
11of our nation's military; and
 
12    WHEREAS, In 1917, the United States Navy announced it
13would open enlistment to women, and approximately 12,000 women
14officially joined the Navy to serve in a variety of positions,
15including as interpreters, couriers, and translators as well
16as positions using drafting skills; and
 
17    WHEREAS, At the conclusion of World War II in 1945, there
18were 12 million enlisted who were remaining to serve in the
19United States military, of which approximately 280,000 were
20women; and
 
21    WHEREAS, With the passage of the Women's Armed Services

 

 

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1Integration Act of 1948, women became a permanent part of the
2United States military but were restricted to two percent of
3the military population; the restriction was finally lifted in
41967 with an amendment to the Women's Armed Services
5Integration Act, which opened senior officer ranks to women;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, On June 12, 1948, President Harry S. Truman
8signed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act into law,
9allowing women to serve as regular members of the United
10States military; and
 
11    WHEREAS, In the late 1970s and early 1980s, several laws
12were passed that recognized the many contributions made by
13women during World War II and that formally granted veteran
14status to women for their time in service; this allowed women
15to utilize programs, opportunities, and benefits from the
16federal and state governments, the Department of Veterans
17Affairs, and veteran service organizations; therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
19HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
20we declare June 12, 2023 as "Women's Veterans Day" in the State
21of Illinois to commemorate the day women were officially added
22as regular members of the United States military, to recognize
23the critical role of women in the military forces, and to

 

 

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1commemorate the sacrifices and valor displayed by Illinois
2women veterans; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That we urge Women's Veterans Day be observed
4with appropriate programs, services, and activities.