The Carbon County Veterans Affairs director was honored Tuesday by the state for her service to the country.

Christine LeClair was recognized by Gov. Tom Wolf, first lady Frances Wolf and the Pennsylvania Commission for Women alongside 18 other female veterans during a virtual ceremony. The presentation was held as part of Women’s History Month.

“Frances and I are honored to join such decorated female veterans as we celebrate each of their accomplishments along with the thousands of other women who have served or are serving in the armed forces,” Wolf said. “Thank you for the example of public service you provide to young women in Pennsylvania and for breaking down barriers and paving the way for the next generation of women who want to find success and fulfillment in military service.”

“Like most veterans, I am very proud of my service in the military and thrilled to have the opportunity to continue serving as a community volunteer and director of Veterans Affairs,” LeClair said. “I was so surprised when I received a letter stating that I was going to be honored by the governor, and I am truly humbled to receive this recognition.”

The governor and Pennsylvania Commission for Women originally planned to honor the 19 women last March, but the pandemic delayed the honor until now.

Last February, after LeClair learned of the recognition, the commissioners publicly recognized her for her service both to county and country.

LeClair, of Lansford, is a mother of two and the daughter of Arthur and Mary Williams of Lansford.

She is a 1998 Marian Catholic High School graduate.

During her time in the military, LeClair served two tours in Iraq and one in Central America, where she worked on counternarcotics missions, traveling to Belize, Guatemala and El Salvador to work with their militaries in the hopes of stopping drug cartels that were trying to transport drugs into the United States.

She is active in American Legion Post 123 in Lansford, St. Joseph Parish of the Panther Valley, the Valor Clinic Foundation, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Carbon County Homelessness Task Force and Panther Valley Library, and has served on a number of boards in these organizations.

She is also the first female director of Veterans Affairs in Carbon County, a position she held since December 2019; and was the recipient of the 2020 John C. “Ace” Mann Blue Cap of the Year Award.

In addition to LeClair, other women honored Tuesday include Sharon DeMaison of Crawford County; Danielle Farber of Dauphin County; Myra Fields-Rouse of Philadelphia County; Patti Gerhauser of Allegheny County; Cynthia Good of Cumberland County; Priscillia Hamilton of Erie County; Marilyn Kelly-Cavotta of Northampton County; Loretta Kendall of Washington County; Jessica King of Allegheny County; Deborah Kramer of Adams County; Zoraya Nieves of Philadelphia County; Barbara Omstead of Berks County; Elizabeth Pettis of Lebanon County; Bernice “Bobbie” Trotter of Montgomery County; Marlena Ventresca Parker of Bucks County; Annmarie Waite of Erie County; Rachetta Welker of Crawford County and Sabrina Whitehurst of Centre County.