Okaloosa County proclaims June 12 Women Veterans Recognition Day; keynote urges veterans to "tell your story"

Commissioner Carolyn Kechel opened Okaloosa Countys third annual Women Veterans Recognition Day ceremony in Fort Walton Beach and recognized a county proclamation designating 06/12/2025 as Women Veterans Recognition Day.

The proclamation was read by Commissioner Trey Goodwin, who said of the Board vote, "this proclamation passed the Board of County Commissioners unanimously. It passed without argument. It passed without detractors." The ceremony included presentations by local lineage societies, musical performances, the presentation of colors by the Okaloosa County EMS honor guard and the unveiling of new statues in the countys Women Veterans Park.

The nut of the event centered on honoring the service of women in the U.S. armed forces and on preserving their stories for future generations. Commissioner Kechel highlighted the parks eight existing statues, including one of Revolutionary War veteran Margaret Corbin, and said two more…