Virginia will honor, recognize and celebrate the contributions of the thousands of women who have served and continue to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces during Virginia Women Veterans Week, March 15-21, 2026.
This is the ninth consecutive year that the Commonwealth of Virginia has recognized the third week of March as Virginia Women Veterans Week.
The 2026 theme is “She Leads the Legacy: Trailblazers in Motion” and highlights those women veterans who have paved the way and continue to provide leadership in their communities.
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) will host a special Virginia Women Veterans Recognition Ceremony at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 18 at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond. The ceremony will include guest speakers, tributes to Virginia women veterans, and the presentation of Virginia Women Veteran lapel pins to all women veterans in attendance.
Members of the public and especially women veterans are invited and encouraged to attend the Virginia Women Veterans Recognition Ceremony. There is no charge to attend. The Virginia War Memorial is located at 621 South Belvidere Street, Richmond, Va. 23220.
“We are proud that Virginia remains a leader in honoring the contributions of women veterans and that the Virginia Department of Veterans Services was a pioneer in recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities women veterans face when they transition from military service to civilian life,” said DVS Commissioner John Maxwell.
“Our Commonwealth is proudly home to over 110,000 women veterans,” noted Neikesha Thompson, Women Veteran Liaison at DVS and U.S. Army combat veteran. “This is the largest percentage of women veterans per population size of any state – and thousands more women currently serve in Virginia in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reserves. Virginia Women Veterans Week and this special recognition ceremony are a heartfelt tribute from all Virginians of their courage, dedication and resilience.”
Following the Recognition Ceremony, there will be a Virginia Women Veterans luncheon at the Virginia War Memorial. As of March 10, the luncheon portion of this recognition event has been filled to capacity. However, we encourage those who wish to attend the recognition ceremony to register here. The deadline for registration is March 17, 2026.
For more information about Virginia Women Veterans Week 2026, please visit www.dvs.virginia.gov.
About the Virginia Department of Veterans Services
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) is a state government agency with more than 50 locations across the Commonwealth of Virginia. DVS traces its history to 1928 and the establishment of the Virginia War Service Bureau to assist Virginia’s World War I veterans. Today, DVS assists veterans and their families in filing claims for federal veterans benefits; provides veterans and family members with linkages to services including behavioral healthcare, housing, employment, education, and other programs. The agency operates four long-term care facilities offering in-patient skilled nursing care, memory care, and short-term rehabilitation for veterans; provides an honored final resting place for veterans and their families at three state veterans cemeteries; and operates the Virginia War Memorial, the Commonwealth’s tribute to Virginia’s men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice from World War II to the present. For more information, please visit www.dvs.virginia.gov.
About the Virginia Women Veterans Program
The Virginia Women Veterans Program (VWVP) provides access to community resources to educate, unify, and empower Virginia’s women veterans who have served in the military in all eras. The VWWP helps to ensure they receive timely yet appropriate transition and benefits support, employment and education outreach, and health and community advocacy. For more information call 804-482-8518 or email womenvet@dvs.virginia.gov
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