Massachusetts opens State House exhibit honoring women veterans, cites federal removals of images

Governor Maura Healey opened an exhibit of Women’s Army Corps uniforms in the Governor’s Office at the Massachusetts State House and called on the federal government to restore images of veterans recently removed from national websites.

The exhibit highlights the role of Edith Nourse Rogers — the Massachusetts congresswoman who championed service and benefits for veterans — and the 350,000 women who served in U.S. forces during World War II, officials said. "We're gonna do things differently here in Massachusetts. We're gonna celebrate our veterans," Healey said.

The exhibit, organized in partnership with the Executive Office of Veterans' Services and 350 Girls, features uniforms dating from World War II through the 1978 integration of the Women's Army Corps into the U.S. Army. "This is more than a historical tribute. It's a powerful testament to the women who have served and the legacy they continue to uphold," Deputy Secretary Gail Bennett said. Bennett noted she chairs the state's Women Veteran Advisory Committee and said the committee will release its first report with recommendations soon.

Mel Bloom, founder of the nonprofit 350 Girls and an Air Force veteran, told the event she launched the group in February 2022 to promote the legacy of the roughly 350,000 women who served in World War II. Bloom described the uniforms on display and recounted how the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps grew rapidly after its 1942 authorization, far exceeding early recruitment expectations.

Healey criticized moves at the federal level that she said have erased images of women and veterans of color from U.S. Department of Defense web pages. "It's hard to believe that the Trump administration ... has removed from its website photographs, images of women veterans, of black veterans, of others who have served this country," she said, adding that Massachusetts will continue honoring veterans regardless of federal actions.

Event organizers also announced the state is accepting nominations for the Deborah Sampson Award, intended to recognize Massachusetts women veterans who "exemplify leadership, service, and commitment to their fellow service members," Bennett said. The governor said Massachusetts has passed the HERO Act and other measures to expand recognition and resources for veterans and emphasized the state will keep making veterans' stories visible in public spaces.

A brief question-and-answer period followed the remarks. A VFW vice commander in attendance thanked the governor and said he receives care at the Bedford VA. Healey answered unrelated media questions about federal research funding cuts and recent ICE actions by describing concerns about federal policy but did not propose new state actions on those topics during the event.

A proclamation for the exhibit was scheduled to be presented at the conclusion of the program.