PROCLAMATION
From the time of our nation's founding, women have had a unique military history, overcoming obstacles to find extraordinary ways to serve. Since all combat positions opened to women in 2016, opportunities for recognition and advancement have allowed for greater equity in military careers and rank. Today, women are serving in all job specialties, in all paygrades, at all commands, but this progress was hard-won.
Despite history's sparse documentation, women have always answered the call to protect and defend our freedoms. From Margaret "Kate" Moore Barry who volunteered as a scout during the American Revolution; to Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley, the first African-American woman to be commissioned into the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, who commanded the only all-black, all-female unit sent overseas during World War II; and to Captain Emily "Banzai" Thompson who, in 2020, became the first woman to fly the F-35A in combat, women overcame gender, racial, and societal norms and policy hurdles in order to make this nation stronger.
Though women were not fully integrated into combat roles until 2016, they continue to be the fastest growing population of military service members. Today, women make up approximately 17 percent of the active-duty forces. Women represent nearly 21 percent of the reserve forces nationwide. California's woman veterans are part of a long and proud legacy of military service. Of the approximately two million living women veterans in our nation today, over 163,000 reside in California - 10 percent of all veterans living in California.
It is our duty and honor to recognize the incredible legacy of women veterans and their many sacrifices. During Women's Military History Week, we salute them for their courage and recognize we owe all military women and men our deepest appreciation and respect.
NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM,Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim March 14-20, 2022, as "Women's Military History Week."
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 11th day of March 2022.
Source: Office of the Governor
