Women Veterans Day: Honoring a Legacy of Service

Each year on June 12, communities across the country observe Women Veterans Day, also referred to as Women Veterans Recognition Day or Women Veterans Appreciation Day. While this date is not yet recognized as a federal holiday, its significance is undeniable. It commemorates the signing of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act on June 12, 1948, when President Harry S. Truman signed into law legislation that allowed women to serve as permanent, regular members of the United States military.

Before 1948, women could generally only serve during times of war, and even then, their opportunities were often limited. Many were not considered regular members of the military, which sometimes prevented them from receiving Veteran status and the benefits they had earned through their service.

Yet the story of women serving our nation began long before 1948.

Women have played vital roles in every chapter of America’s military history. During the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, some disguised themselves as men to fight alongside their fellow soldiers. Others served as nurses, spies, and supporters of the war effort. During World War I, approximately 35,000 women served, including military nurses and the “Hello Girls,” bilingual telephone operators who provided critical communication support.

By World War II, nearly 350,000 women served in the U.S. military under special designations. They worked as nurses, administrators, mechanics, and intelligence specialists. Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) ferried aircraft, tested planes, and trained male pilots. Despite these contributions, women were still not granted permanent status within the Armed Forces.

The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act changed that reality, opening the door for women to serve as permanent members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.

Even so, the path toward recognition and equity continued to be challenging.

During the Vietnam War, more than 265,000 American women served the military and 11,000 women served in Vietnam, primarily as nurses in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. These women provided lifesaving care under extraordinarily difficult conditions. Sixty-five American women, both military and civilian, lost their lives during the conflict.

When they returned home, many women Veterans found themselves struggling with isolation and a lack of understanding from a nation divided by war. Their service often went unrecognized, and their stories were frequently absent from the broader narrative of military history. It was not until 1993 that the Vietnam Women’s Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., formally honoring the women who served in Vietnam.

Women Veterans also faced barriers in accessing benefits and healthcare. In the decades following Vietnam, many encountered systems that were not designed with women Veterans in mind. Advocacy efforts throughout the 1980s and 1990s helped bring attention to these disparities and contributed to meaningful reforms, including the establishment of the Center for Women Veterans in 1994.

Today, women Veterans are the fastest-growing population within the Veteran community. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are nearly two million women Veterans living in the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories. More women are enrolling in VA healthcare, utilizing earned benefits, and ensuring that future generations of women who serve receive the recognition and support they deserve.

Here in Colorado, that recognition has taken on special significance. In 2024, the Colorado General Assembly officially designated June 12 as Women Veterans Appreciation Day. Codified in Colorado Revised Statutes §24-11-117, the observance serves as a formal acknowledgment of the service and sacrifice of women Veterans across the state.

Colorado is home to more than 8,500 women currently serving in the military and over 47,000 women Veterans. These women have served in times of war and peace, often overcoming barriers while continuing to lead, protect, heal, and strengthen their communities.

Some women Veterans question the need for a separate day of recognition, pointing to Veterans Day on November 11 as a day that honors all who have served. Others believe Women Veterans Day offers an opportunity to educate the public about the long and often overlooked history of women’s military service.

Both perspectives reflect a shared truth: women have always served.

Women Veterans Day is not about separating women from the Veteran community. Rather, it is about ensuring that their contributions are visible and their stories are remembered.

At Women Who Served: Colorado Veterans, we believe that no woman who served should feel invisible. We are committed to creating opportunities for connection, support, and community among women Veterans across Colorado.

As we commemorate Women Veterans Day, we honor the women who paved the way, those who continue to serve today, and those who will follow in their footsteps. Their service spans more than 250 years of American history.

Their stories matter.

Their sacrifices matter.

Their service matters.

Today, and every day, we thank and honor the women who have served our nation with courage, resilience, and unwavering dedication.

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