COLUMBUS – As the nation observes Veterans Day Monday, some of Ohio’s so-called “invisible” veterans are watching to see if they will have their own observance.
A bill on Governor Mike Dewine’s desk would designate June 12 as Women Veterans’ Day, to pay tribute to the 67,000 female military veterans living in Ohio.
A 2017 report from the Department of Veterans Affairs noted that it wasn’t until decades after World War II that women who served in the military began to be officially recognized as veterans and many still struggle to obtain access to services and benefits.
“One of the things that we hear a lot, especially from our Vietnam-era and our Korean War veterans, they say, ‘Well, I didn’t know I was a veteran; nobody ever said I was a veteran.’ And that’s sad. We just need to keep finding them,” said And Beltz, an Operation Desert Storm veteran and Chair of the Ohio Women Veterans Advisory Committee.
Beltz says social and cultural norms often discouraged women from discussing their military service.
Senate Bill 77 passed both the Senate and House without opposition.
The City of Columbus has stopped observing Columbus Day as a holiday and now observes Veterans Day as its official government holiday, which means that there will be no trash pickup.
Recycling and yard waste service with a collection day that falls on or after the holiday will be delayed by one day during the week of the holiday with Friday’s collection occurring on Saturday.
Government offices will be closed, there will be no mail delivery and parking meters will be free.
Fares on COTA buses will be free the entire day for anyone who shows a valid military ID.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium celebrates “Veterans Free Day.” Military personnel and their immediate family will be admitted free for the day. Active-duty service members and veterans will need to present their military ID or other proof of service.
All visitors on Monday will receive a ticket at the exit that can be used for one free return visit to the zoo between Nov. 15 and Jan. 5.