Women are Veterans, too!

In Atlanta during the 1950’s and 1960’s on most any street from Peachtree to Whitehall to Hunter, you would see men from the American Legion standing around on the street corners on Veteran’s Day selling little poppies made out of  red crepe paper for any amount of a donation. The proceeds went to help the wounded soldiers who had actually help make them. First called “Poppy Day,” then “Armistice Day,” and then later Veteran’s Day – it was designated for November 11th of each year because the end of World War I was on the 11th day, of the 11th month on the 11th hour when the Armistice was signed to end the war that was supposed to end all wars. They still sell the little poppies; but they are no longer made by wounded soldiers – they are manufactured.

All I ever saw were men who were veterans. But history reveals that women have been involved in every war that has been fought for this nation; and far more than we realize.

Most people did not give any thought to why these were always men in the Legion putting wreaths on graves, going to the schools to take care of old and tattered flags? Was it that women were not seen or recognized for their service to our country in the past – at least not in the public eye - as the men were? Finally in 1993 a memorial statue honoring women who served in Viet Nam – mostly nurses - was erected on the National Mall as part of the Viet Nam Memorial. And then again in 1997 when there was dedicated a Women In Military Service for America Memorial was dedicated.

After 2001, we began to see more and more women in the military and through this new trend, a new generation of “can do” women. Before, women in the military had held non-combat positions.
While we see posters of Rosie the Riveter and others showing the support of women during World War II, women did lot more than rivet.  While we did not see them, they were there.

Women were involved in war even during the Revolutionary War. Here in Georgia there is a county named for Nancy Hart (Hart County) that tells of an incident where this lone woman stood up against a group of British soldiers and was reported to have shot some of them dead. There have been conflicting stories through the years – it was said that she was so crossed-eyed that when she was holding a gun on several soldiers, they could not tell who she was looking at so none of them moved.

We have seen the old westerns where women were beside their husbands loading the guns to ward off the Indians or the bad men; but today we have women in war who load and shoot their own guns.

During World War I, there were 33,000 women, 500,00 during World War II; 120,000 during the Korean War, 7,000 deployed in Viet Nam; and 7% (40,000) of those in Desert Storm were women. There are presently 73,390 women veterans in Georgia.

Women served in every war in some capacity since the Revolutionary War – they have been prisoners of war, spies, pilots, and are in the National Guard. Recently it has been reported that soon women will be able to serve on submarines.

Women Veterans have the same needs since leaving the military as men; they a covered under the Veteran’s Affairs just as men.

This is an absolutely amazing web site giving so many details and stories about brave and devoted women who are served our country in peace time and in war. Revolutionary War, 1812, Civil, World Wars I & II, Korean, Viet Nam, Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm, Somalia, Bosnia, Desert Fox, and now both in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are women buried in Arlington Cemetery as well.

http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/    While Veteran’s Day is mostly for honoring those soldiers who are alive; and Memorial Day in May to remember those who died – at the bottom of the page, you will be able to look into the faces of over 100 women who have died in the recent wars. You could spend a day or two on this site learning all the fascinating things about women who have served.

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/womenshealth/   This site will give you information about what is going on in the lives of women veterans today – they are becoming one of the largest groups of veterans.
The veteran’s hospitals are always looking for volunteers if you are interested you can find a hospital or facility near you here in Georgia by checking out this site

http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/state.asp?State=GA&dnum=ALL

Thank you guys and gals who have so valiantly served this nation both in peace time and in war (and for duties and services we will never fully understand); but you were up to the challenge, served honorably; and we honor you and appreciate your service to our country.

God bless you all. Okay, well... you men too.

Operation Gratitude accepts candy for American troops, who use it both for themselves and to give out to children in communities they patrol. All types of candy are accepted, including chocolate this time of year.  Ship candy by 05 DEC 09 to Operation Gratitude/California Army National Guard, Attn: Charlie Othold 17330 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91406.