IowaWORKS, Iowa Workforce Development and Home Base Iowa are celebrating women veterans statewide throughout the month of June including with a first-time recognition event in the Quad Cities.
IowaWORKS-Davenport will host “Saluting Women Veterans – Uniting Our Local Women Who Served” on Thursday, June 23, at its 1801A East Kimberly Road center. The recognition/networking event will be from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and includes a light continental breakfast.
The event is free and open to all Quad Cities women veterans. To attend, RSVP at (563) 445-3200 Ext. 43326.
The month-long IowaWORKS campaign honoring military women includes the observance of Women Veterans Day. Now held on June 12 in the United States, the date marks the anniversary of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act. While the day is not recognized nationally, a number of states and organizations observe Women Veterans Day either through legislation or proclamation.
“We look forward to honoring business women, entrepreneurs, students, active duty, National Guard, Reserves, stay-at-home moms, mothers, grandmothers, fur-moms, young, old (and in between), combat veterans, and non-combat veterans,” said Heather Deters, Home Base Iowa career planner. “We want to celebrate YOU!”
Ms. Deters, a U.S. Army veteran herself, said the networking event will highlight stories of women veterans. “We want our women veterans to know that they are not alone,” she said. “We want their voices to be heard in our community.”
The first Women Veterans Day was held June 12, 2018, and marked the 70th Anniversary of the groundbreaking Women’s Armed Services Integration Act. The act was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on June 12, 1948. That law enabled women to serve as permanent, regular members of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy and the Air Force.
Currently, there are more than 2 million women U.S. veterans, according to the Veteran Affairs Administration.
For more information on the recognition event, contact Heather Deters at IowaWORKS at (563) 445-3200 Extension 43326.
