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City to honor women veterans with week of festivities

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Mayor Alvin Brown says the city of Jacksonville will honor its women in uniform.

The mayor, along with the Northeast Florida Women Veterans Association, proclaimed next week as Women Veterans Recognition Week.

"We must do right by our women veterans," said Brown. "Just like their male counterparts, they have served our country with honor and bravery. This weeklong celebration is a long-overdue opportunity for all of us to honor the service of our women veterans and to raise public awareness about the challenges they face."

There will be a series of events all week to honor and celebrate the contributions of women veterans.

"Women Veterans have a rich history in our armed forces," said Dee Quaranta, executive director of the Northeast Florida Women Veterans Association, Inc. "This recognition week will not only highlight their contributions, but it will also bring awareness to the growing needs of women veterans as more complete deployments and exit active duty."

Florida ranks third in the nation for women veterans, and Duval County has the largest number in the state. Women also make up nearly 18 percent of all post 9/11 veterans.

Women Veterans Recognition Week events:

  • March 18 - Women Veterans Forum: The Status of Women Veterans 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., WJCT Studio 100 Festival Park Avenue, open to the public
  • March 19 - Women Veterans Health Fair 12 p.m. - 3 p.m., Jacksonville VA Outpatient Clinic 1536 North Jefferson Street
  • March 20 - Traveling Stories: A Day in the Life of a Military Women" 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., YMCA Spring Break Camps (Tiger Academy, Dupont YMCA)
  • March 22 - Women Veterans Recognition Gala 6 p.m. - 9 p.m., Jacksonville Riverwalk Wyndham 1515 Prudential Drive, Open to the public Semi-Formal; $45 tickets can be purchased online through the Why Not Me Campaign.