Somerset County proclaims June 12, 2025, Women Veterans Appreciation Day

The Somerset County Board of Commissioners on June 24 issued a proclamation recognizing June 12, 2025, as Women Veterans Appreciation Day, citing a designation by the New Jersey Legislature and the 70th anniversary of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act.

The proclamation traced women’s military service from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War and both world wars and said that since the 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act women have served in all military occupational specialties. The text read at the meeting cited figures for women’s service in World War I and World War II and noted women’s roles in nursing, military intelligence, communications, cryptography and aircraft piloting.

Andrea Dare, identified at the meeting as commander of American Legion Post 12 and a department executive committee member with the state American Legion, accepted the proclamation and described her service. Dare said she enlisted in 1975 and was among the last classes of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) before the service integration that followed. “Women have come a very, very long way, and for that, I’m very grateful and very proud,” she said.

The county’s proclamation was signed by the commissioners and presented in a ceremonial recognition; the Board did not announce new county programs or benefits for veterans during the meeting.