Over the weekend, women veterans were honored locally with the new “Forever Remember” commemorative coins depicting female veterans.

The coin shows Hannah Watts Weston, one of Maine’s first female veterans; Emily W. Dana, Civil War Union Army nurse; Patricia A. (Chadwick) Erickson, World War II Women Air Force Service pilot; and Annette M. Bachman, representing the Global War on Terrorism, Maine Army National Guard. Part of the reason it came to fruition was due to the efforts of State Rep. Linda Valentino, D-Saco, who helped raise money for a commemorative plaque for women veterans at the Statehouse Hall of Flags and commemorative coins to recognize these women.

About 40 women were honored Sunday in Sanford by Terry Moore, chairwoman of the Advisory Commission on Women Veterans, and Peter Ogden, director of Maine Veterans Service.

Honoring these women is the right thing to do. Stories of efforts to support and honor our troops are often in the headlines, but women, for too long, have not been recognized as veterans ”“ until 1978, in fact. Before that time, women who served in wars were considered auxiliary and not legally recognized as veterans.

It is unfortunate that it took as long as it did to recognize these women, but we’re pleased to see Maine is on the right track.

Honoring their service and offering them the full benefits that come with being a veteran should be the way forward.

First Lady Ann LePage was at the ceremony and said one of the focuses for her time in the Blaine House is supporting military service people and their families. We hope she continues on this mission and expands it to continue seeking out female vets who may not be aware of their status and the benefits available to them.

Women like 91-year-old Alma Klotz of Old Orchard Beach, who was a first lieutenant Army nurse in World War II, should be sought out and lauded for their achievements. Klotz served from December 1942 to January 1946, traveling to Africa, Italy and France. She said she tried to join a Veterans of Foreign War chapter in the 1950s, but was told that she could only join the auxiliary.

Now that these women are legally veterans and are being honored for their service, the state has issued one thousand of the commemorative coins since the Maine Women Veterans Memorial was dedicated in February 2011, but there are still 9,000 female veterans who need to be found, according to Ogden. Applications for the coin are available at the state’s website, www.maine.gov/dvem, and we urge those women who have served and family members of veterans to seek out this long overdue honor.

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Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.