The full text of the governor's proclamation follows:

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
PROCLAMATION

by the
Governor of the State of California

WHEREAS, from the time of the Revolutionary War to the current War on Terrorism in Afghanistan, American women have worked to secure liberty and freedom for people around the world; and

WHEREAS, women have voluntarily served in all of our nation's major conflicts, beginning with the American Revolution when some women disguised themselves as men to join the Continental Army: and

WHEREAS, in war, international conflicts and peacekeeping missions, women have been wounded, taken as Prisoners of War and died in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, women continue to play an increasingly important role in the defense of  our State and nation, currently constituting 15 percent of the United States' active duty forces and 17 percent of the reserve forces; and

WHEREAS, there are more than 1.6 million women veterans in the United States, of which more than ten percent reside in the State of California; and

WHEREAS, designating a week honoring women veterans within Women's History Month highlights the contributions of generations of women who have served in our armed forces;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GRAY DAVIS, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim March 16-22, 2003 as "Women's Military History Week."

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 31st day of January 2003.

Gray Davis
Governor of California

ATTEST:
Kevin Shelley
Secretary of State