ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan on Friday proclaimed June 12 as Women Veterans Day in Maryland and announced the establishment of the Women Veterans Inclusion Program to support women veterans. This year marks the 73rd anniversary of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on June 12, 1948.

“This new initiative will increase outreach and raise awareness of programs for women veterans as well as other underserved veterans in Maryland,” said Governor Hogan. “By extending outreach, we are ensuring more veterans have access to the resources and important benefits they deserve.”

Through the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, the new Women Veterans Inclusion Program will collaborate with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, state and local governments, and community organizations to coordinate events to raise awareness of the needs of Maryland’s women, minority, and underserved veteran populations. A program manager will chair a statewide advisory council in order to identify resources to support and advocate on behalf of this group of veterans, and will participate in workgroups and serve as a subject matter expert regarding the needs of underserved veterans groups.

“The establishment of this important program will enable the Department to assess for gaps, identify challenges, and find solutions,” said Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary George Owings. “We are excited to bring this program to Maryland and to recruit a full-time program manager to the Department.”

Women Veterans Day in Maryland honors the resilience and courage shown by the 52,000 women who have served in the United States Armed Forces and call this state home.

For more information on the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, visit https://veterans.maryland.gov.

More in the video below.