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AN ACT relating to Women Veterans Appreciation Day and declaring an 1
emergency. 2
WHEREAS, women have proudly served their country throughout all periods of the 3
history of the United States, disguising themselves as male soldiers during the American 4
Revolution and Civil War, serving as nurses in both World Wars, flying combat 5
helicopters in Afghanistan, and serving in countless other ways; and 6
WHEREAS, women have formally been a part of the United States Armed Forces 7
since the inception of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901, but have informally served since 8
the inception of our nation's military; and 9
WHEREAS, veterans act with incredible honor and disregard personal well-being 10
to preserve a gift of unapproachable magnitude for the citizens of this great nation in 11
American freedom; and 12
WHEREAS, it was not until well after World War II that women who served in the 13
military began to be officially recognized as veterans; and 14
WHEREAS, women who have served in the United States military are often 15
referred to as "invisible veterans" because until the 1970s their service contributions went 16
largely unrecognized; and 17
WHEREAS, there are currently around 2,000,000 women veterans living in the 18
United States and Puerto Rico, and of those, over 27,000 live in the Commonwealth of 19
Kentucky; and 20
WHEREAS, Kentucky honors the tremendous sacrifices our women in uniform 21
have made in order to defend our country; and 22
WHEREAS, it is the Commonwealth's duty to honor the memory of our dedicated 23
servicewomen who never returned home, having made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve 24
our nation and its way of life; and 25
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth pays special tribute to the valiant guardians of our 26
freedom who remain listed as Missing in Action and offers support to the loving families 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 844
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who hope for their safe return; and 1
WHEREAS, citizens of the United States of America owe an inexpressible debt to 2
female veterans, and today we ask that their spirit never be forgotten; and 3
WHEREAS, the valor and devotion to duty demonstrated by current and past 4
servicewomen have paved the way for future generations; 5
NOW, THEREFORE, 6
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 7
SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 2 IS CREATED TO 8
READ AS FOLLOWS: 9
(1) The twelfth day of June of each year is designated as "Women Veterans 10
Appreciation Day" in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. 11
(2) The Governor shall issue a proclamation each year designating June 12 as 12
"Women Veterans Appreciation Day" in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and 13
encourage the citizens of this Commonwealth to acknowledge the day in 14
commemoration of the numerous contributions, sacrifices, and displays of valor 15
made by women veterans. 16
Section 2. Whereas it is of the utmost importance to recognize women who 17
have valiantly served in the military and to commemorate Women Veterans Appreciation 18
Day in 2025, an emergency is declared to exist, and this Act takes effect upon its passage 19
and approval by the Governor or upon its otherwise becoming a law. 20