News
First Lady Asks Women Veterans to Share Their Stories
Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - National
During a Women’s History Month event at the Capitol, Mrs. Obama encouraged women with military service to tell their stories. Brigadier General Wilma Vaught was honored at the event during which she recounted some her experiences. While women have overcome many challenges, the future holds many more as women enter all combat occupations. General Vaught reinforced that many women veterans still do not self-identify as veterans and are missing out on many services and benefits they've earned.
This Is How March Became Women’s History Month
Monday, February 29, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - National
Time offers a brief history of the origin of "Women's History Month," noting that many of the rights women now have came "surprisingly recently." Over time and gradual developments like the first "Woman's Day" on February 28 1909, it was President Jimmy Carter who proclaimed the first national Women’s History Week for March 2-8, 1980.
'I'm A Female And I'm A Veteran ... Those 2 Things Are Not Mutually Exclusive'
Saturday, February 27, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - National
Two women share their experiences and how the policies and laws have changed since they entered the military in 1973 and around 1993. Their service, along with millions of other women, will soon culminate a historic first for female service members when the military opens all front-line combat roles to women across all branches in April 2016.
Museum Program Highlights Native American Women Vets
Friday, February 26, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - Nebraska
In conjunction with the Sarpy County Museum annual theme of Native American history, there will be a presentation on Sunday, February 28, 2016 about Native American women who served during World War II and how their tribal identities influenced their military experience and community service. Although limited information about their lives and military experiences is available, it is estimated that 800 enlisted during WWII.
Women Veterans Find Voice in Writing
Friday, February 26, 2016 | Category: Arts - District of Columbia
Veterans in the Washington D.C. area have used "The Veterans Writing Project" for the past four years to express themselves through various forms of writing. For the first time, women veterans were the spotlighted publishers in the latest literary journal, "O-Dark-Thirty." Around 23 women contributed nonfiction essays, poetry and fiction. Only about 5 percent of around 400 women who submitted pieces for the journal made the cut. Editors noted that "honesty was something that continually stood out...writers wrote about things women on active duty didn’t talk about for the fear of seeming weak."
How Pharmacists Can Better Serve Older Female Veterans
Thursday, February 25, 2016 | Category: Health Care - National
One of the results of the Women's Health Initiative indicated women veterans have a 25% greater chance of hip fracture and higher 10-year probabilities for any major fracture compared to civilian women. Dr. Joanne LaFleur and fellow researchers examined data on patients aged 50 to 79 years, 3,719 self-reported as veterans and 141,802 self-reported as non-veterans. She noted that it is important to manage smoking and weight loss, pharmacists can help with focusing on osteoporosis risk,
Hawaii Bill Pushes for Help for Female Veterans
Wednesday, February 24, 2016 | Category: Health Care - Hawaii
Hawaii Office of Veterans Services Director Ronald Han is asking lawmakers to pass a bill to help provide more services to female veterans. In particular, the law would establish and fund a full-time counselor position in the Hawaii Office of Veterans Services focused on female veterans.
From Battle Scars to Badges of Honor: 13 Questions with Paratrooper Bobette Brown
Monday, February 22, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - National
Military veteran Bobette Brown, a U.S. Army airborne paratrooper, now travels as a motivational speaker, consultant, and transformation consultant. At a "Got Your 6 Storytellers" event in New York, she shared: "You don’t have to look like what you’ve been through. See today, you can choose take your experiences and go from scars to beauty marks. And those battle wounds can become badges of honor. It’s all your decision.” Over time and living life's experiences, she decided not to be "afraid to speak about her wounds...recounting a knee replacement surgery, sexual assault and harassment she experienced in the military or a five-day stretch of sleeplessness from her trauma. Bobette came to the conclusion "that keeping secrets doesn’t do anyone good."
Senator: Fire VA’s Mental Health Director After Suicide Hotline Failures
Sunday, February 21, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
Sen. Mark Kirk (Ill), Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, wrote a letter to VA Secretary McDonald calling for the firing of the VA's director of mental health after the release of the VA OIG investigative report that substantiated veterans complaints about the VA's Suicide Hotline call center.
Belleville Military Wife to Climb Kilimanjaro to Help Women
Sunday, February 21, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - National
On March 2, 2016, Leia Johnson will set out March 2 with 14 other women and one man in hopes of reaching the 19,000-foot summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania by March 8, International Women’s Day. The team of climbers wish to highlight the trouble women face in areas of conflict in Syria, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan. Leia is also the founder of "Somebody’s Mama," an nonprofit that sponsors women’s empowerment projects around the globe. "Somebody's Mama" collaborates with a sister group "One Million Thumbprints," which also helps women become independent.