xx spotlight: Women are Veterans Too!

Happy Veterans day!

Some of the most important people in my life are veterans, and one day a year to honor them isn't enough.

According to the fact sheet on US Department of Veteran Affairs, as of October 2008, the US and Puerto Rico have approximately 23.4 million veterans, and 1,802,491 women veterans.

I have to be honest, I only know one xx veteran. She crosses all the stereotypical images of veterans that one sees in the news, by being a woman and my age. When you first meet her, she is easy to like. Friendly, interested, outgoing and funny. The type of person who makes you feel welcome right from the get-go. Finding out she is a veteran makes you just that much more aware of how awesome she is. Awesome in the real sense of the word, I'm in awe: Krystyna C. you are inspiring!

The Massachusetts Women Veterans' Network recently honored two veterans with the Outstanding Woman Veteran Award.

Sara Payne Hayden entered the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program in 1944, was commissioned to the Air Force Reserves in 1949, and was called up to active duty from 1951-53 as a recruiting officer. Hayden’s love of flying and commitment to women veterans’ issues has been her lodestar. She has been active in the WASP service organization and presently serves as their Military/Veterans Affairs Liaison to help members and their families. Since 1947, she has been a member of The Ninety Nines, Inc., an international organization of women pilots. She is a 50-year member of the American Legion. She volunteers a great deal of her time to raise awareness about women pilot’s military history and to support and assist women veterans in Massachusetts.

Mary L. Anderson looked to further develop her skills and wanted to join the Army in 1975. However, at this point in time, single mothers could not join active duty, so she did the next best thing and joined the U.S. Army Reserves. In 1991, still a single parent and full-time employee, she was called to active duty to serve in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War. Anderson and her unit completed the mission with honors and returned home after four months. Anderson completed 22 years of service. After her retirement from the Army Reserves, Anderson became active in the American Legion and the women’s Vet to Vet group at the VA Boston Healthcare System. Anderson’s commitment to serving her country and her fellow veterans demonstrates outstanding sacrifice and dedication.

Thank you Krystyna, Mary and Sara. Thank you to every veteran out there, for everything you have done, and continue to do.