[Applause] happy women veterans day! this is the third year we're celebrating women veterans day in Texas and we are thrilled to have so many women veterans participating in our virtual celebration we honored Texas women veterans for their military service and recognize the sacrifices they have made we wouldn't have this day to celebrate if it wasn't for Texas state representative Victoria niave on May 5th 2017 she filed House bill 2698 establishing Texas women veterans day and on June 9th 2017 governor Greg Abbott designated June 12th women veterans day the date is significant because on June 12th 1948 President Harry Truman signed into law the women's armed services integration allowing women to serve as regular members in all branches of the military during wartime and peacetime we are very proud that Texas is home to more than 180,000 women veterans the largest population of women veterans in the nation the duty of Texas Veterans Commission to identify the unmet needs and gaps in services for women veterans and advocate for change ladies we appreciate and honor your service now let's meet some of our Texas women veterans [Music] I'm Laura Koerner and I currently serve as one of the five commissioners with the Texas Veterans Commission after graduating from the Naval Academy I served the United States Navy as a Surface Warfare nuclear officer during my time in the Navy I served on board USS Mahan DDG 72 as the tomahawk strike officer went to naval nuclear power school and served on board USS Enterprise where I stood watch over the ship's nuclear reactors I'm so glad to be part of women veterans day and continue my service with the Texas Veterans Commission where Texas sets the standard across the country and how best to serve and honor our veterans women veterans day is just one example I'm excited to see the faces and stories of the many women veterans that we are highlighting and honoring today [Music] [Music] I'm Kimberly Shanee felt a Commissioner for the Texas Veterans Commission I was commissioned in 1991 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Southeast Missouri State University my active-duty career began in Texas at Goodfellow Air Force Base where I was trained as an intelligence officer I spent the next 23 years serving around the world then had the great honor of finishing my career right back where I started as the 17th training Wing Commander at Goodfellow Air Force Base in beautiful San Angelo Texas I am so proud to see the many contributions our women veterans have made at all ranks and in nearly all specialties I am honored to continue to serve our veterans with the Texas Veterans Commission where I believe Texas leads the nation in serving those who served including honoring and advocating for our women veterans whose stories of service are so inspiring to me happy women Veterans Day [Music] ready to follow the fleet to any battlefront these traditional angels of mercy no but one code service to humanity women as always the heroes of all wars [Music]