Press Release  Governor Healey, Executive Office of Veterans Services Celebrate Women Veterans Recognition Month During Deborah Sampson Award Ceremony

Boston, MA — The Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS) today announced Mary-dith Tuitt as the 2024 Deborah Sampson Award recipient. Mary-dith Tuitt was honored and presented with this title by Governor Maura T. Healey and Secretary Jon Santiago at the annual Women Veterans Recognition Day Ceremony, held at the Massachusetts State House. 

“It is always a joy to celebrate National Women Veterans Appreciation Day at the State House to honor the remarkable women who have served in our armed forces. We recognize the immense contributions and sacrifices they have made, and their ongoing service to our community, state, and country,” said Governor Maura Healey. “I'm also thrilled to present Mary-dith Tuitt with the Deborah Sampson Award and thank her for inspiring us today and every day.”

"Mary-dith Tuitt’s impressive record of military and public service, coupled with her longstanding investment in the community, make her the ideal choice for this award," stated Secretary Jon Santiago. “We commend her tireless efforts in empowering and supporting her fellow women veterans and peers.”

The Deborah Sampson Award, named after the American Revolution hero hero who disguised herself as a man and served in the Revolutionary Army, honors individuals like Mary-dith Tuitt, who embody heroism, fidelity, and courage. Bestowed annually by EOVS’ Women Veterans Network, this prestigious honor recognizes a female veteran who goes above and beyond to serve her fellow women veterans in Massachusetts.

"We are proud to recognize and honor Mary-dith’s exceptional dedication to women veterans," said Jessica Frost, Program Director of the Women Veterans Network. "As a Navy veteran, she not only understands the unique experiences and challenges women in the military face but seeks to ‘pay it forward’ through her advocacy efforts on a variety of boards and committees.”

Mary-dith E. Tuitt spent 14 years in the U.S. Navy as a jet mechanic, both on active duty and in the reserves. Following her military service, Tuitt worked as Chief Legislative Aide for State Representative Gloria L. Fox for more than 10 years. Later, she acted as Constituent Services Coordinator for Boston City Councilor Charles Yancey, providing support to the city’s underserved communities.

Tuitt’s actively engaged with organizations and groups centered around veteran and women’s issues. She worked as the Program Manager of the Veterans Outreach Center, a program of Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center. Today, she serves as President of the National Association of Commissions for Women, Vice Chair of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, Vice President of Suffrage 100MA Board, a member of the Massachusetts Women Veterans Network Collaborative; Commander of the Wm E. Carter American Legion Post 16; a member of the Organization of African American Veterans; Holyoke Soldiers' Home Reconstruction - Access, Inclusion and Diversity Committee; and Public Relations for Montserrat Progressive Society of Boston.

About Women Veterans Recognition Day

Women Veterans Day, also referred to as Women Veterans Recognition Day and Women Veterans Appreciation Day, commemorates the day President Harry S. Truman signed into law the 1948 Women's Armed Services Integration Act (pub.L. 80-625, 62 Stat. 365). Prior to then, only women nurses could serve in the regular and reserve forces during peacetime. This groundbreaking legislation granted women a permanent place and an opportunity for a career in the nation’s military. 

About the Women Veterans Network

Established in 1997 as a program under Massachusetts' Executive Office of Veterans Services, the Women Veterans Network (WVN) is dedicated to empowering women veterans, ensuring their voices are heard, their contributions acknowledged, and their well-being enhanced through education, advocacy, and collaboration. For more information, visit https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-women-veterans-network. 

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