CHARLESTON, W.V. (AP) - A statue honoring West Virginia's women veterans will be officially commemorated this week, about a year after it was installed at the Capitol Complex.
Gov.-elect Earl Ray Tomblin, first lady Joanne Tomblin, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito and Sen. Joe Manchin are among the dignitaries scheduled to attend Friday's ceremony.
Veterans Assistance Secretary Keith Gwinn tells the Charleston Daily Mail that women are an important part of the military and veterans, and the statue is a good way to honor them.
Bronze plaques honoring women in different eras of military service were installed on the bronze statue's base Tuesday.
The 7-foot-6-inch statue of a woman clad in fatigue pants, T-shirt, combat boots and field cap was installed near the West Virginia Veterans Memorial in November 2010.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
