Ronald Reagan

“ Today, the number of women serving in the military, and thus the number of women veterans, continues to grow; women veterans now comprise 4.4 percent of the total veteran population. They continue to enrich our country in civilian life as they bring their skills and patriotism to bear in communities across America. Let us use the welcome occasion of National Women Veterans Recognition Week, 1988, to honor the service, sacrifice, and love of country so gladly given by our women veterans. ”

“ We owe all of them a special debt of gratitude for their part in advancing the promise of freedom. We do well to recall that we owe appreciation to our many veterans of military service who are women. ”

“ Throughout our history, women have been among the patriots who have defended our land and liberty from every enemy. Many women have served in the military, in occupations from pilot to nurse and in both peacetime and war. ”