State, county and local officials unveil a giant rendition Nov. 10 during a Women Veterans Michigan license plate unveiling ceremony at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.
License plate designer Danielle Tice (right) is honored by State Sen. Sylvia Santana (D- 2nd District) Nov. 10 during a Women Veterans Michigan license plate unveiling ceremony at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – A Michigan license plate recognizing women veterans was unveiled Nov. 10 at Henry Ford Centennial Library.
The event, led by state Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-2nd District), with City Councilmember Kamal Alsawafy serving as master of ceremonies, honored local women veterans, along with a ceremonial unveiling of a large rendition of the license plate.
Among the speakers were Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, Allen Park Mayor Gail McLeod, state Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-15th District), state Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-3rd District), and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
Among those honored were veterans Lori Galloway of Allen Park, Janet Montoya of Dearborn, who is also the Dearborn 2025 Veteran of the Year, Alyssa Zerilli of Dearborn Heights and Kellee Danielle Hill of Detroit.
Santana also recognized and honored the license plate’s designer, Danielle Tice.
A short video presentation was shared with attendees, and Santana presented a posthumous plaque to the son and daughter of the late Cleopatra Elaine Evans Cohn, who served during World War II in the Women’s Army Corps’ all-black postal battalion, the Six Triple Eight, which improved troop morale by conquering the backlog of undelivered mail to and from troops serving in Europe.
A reception followed in the EmmaJean Woodyard Gallery following the ceremony.
The late Cleopatra Elaine Evans Cohn, a World War II veteran of the Women’s Army Corps’ all-black female postal battalion, the Six Triple Eight, is honored with the presentation of a plaque by state Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-2nd District) to Cohn’s son (holding the plaque) and to her daughter, Connie Mitchell (fourth from left), Nov. 10 during a Women Veterans Michigan license plate unveiling ceremony at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.
Attendees gather Nov. 10 during a Women Veterans Michigan license plate unveiling ceremony at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.
Vocalist Freddi Rene sings the national anthem Nov. 10 during a Women Veterans Michigan license plate unveiling ceremony at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud speaks Nov. 10 during a Women Veterans Michigan license plate unveiling ceremony at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.
Allen Park Mayor Gail McLeod speaks Nov. 10 during a Women Veterans Michigan license plate unveiling ceremony at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson speaks Nov. 10 during a Women Veterans Michigan license plate unveiling ceremony at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.
State Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-15th District, at podium) speaks Nov. 10 during a Women Veterans Michigan license plate unveiling ceremony at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn, as state Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-2nd District, left), and state Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-3rd District), listen.
State Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-2nd District) speaks Nov. 10 during a Women Veterans Michigan license plate unveiling ceremony at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.