Bipartisan bill in Congress would name Zablocki VA women's clinic after Anna Mae Robertson
The Women's Well Clinic, which provides services like primary care, gynecology, maternity care and mental health care, would be named the Anna Mae Robertson VA Well Women Clinic.
The VA as a whole, named after former Milwaukee congressman Clement J. Zablocki, would keep its name.
The bill is authored by Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore and has the support of three Wisconsin Republicans — Reps. Bryan Steil, Scott Fitzgerald and Tony Wied. Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan also backs the legislation.
'As our community and her family mourn her passing, I am pleased that my Wisconsin colleagues from both sides of the aisle have come together to help honor her in this way," Moore said in a news release.
Wied, a Republican who represents the northeastern part of the state, said Robertson "exemplifies the best of Wisconsin." And Stiel, from southeastern Wisconsin, said "it's fitting that she receives recognition for her service to our nation and her fellow veterans at the facility she dedicated her time and talents.'
Robertson was among the 855 women in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black female unit stationed overseas during World War II. With the slogan 'No Mail, Low Morale,' they cleared a nearly three-year logjam of mail destined for homesick soldiers in just three months.
After decades of little recognition of their service, the Six Triple Eight's story became a Netflix film directed by Tyler Perry and starring Kerry Washington.
More: Milwaukee's Anna Mae Robertson, one of last surviving members of World War II's famed Six Triple Eight unit, dies at 101
In 2022, Robertson, then 98, and other members of the Six Triple Eight were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian honors awarded in the United States. At the time, there were only six known living veterans of the unit.
Robertson's celebration of life was held June 7.
If the clinic is named after Robertson, her name will grace a place that was closely connected to her life.
After moving to Milwaukee post-war, Robertson worked as a nurse's aide, caring for sick veterans at the veteran's hospital. Eventually, she too received care from the VA.
'The VA hospital was wonderful to my mother,' Sheree Robertson told the Journal Sentinel. 'They provided her with such loving care, and any time she needed any equipment, it was provided to her."
She thanked Moore for recognizing her mother in a profound way and 'for doing the tough work to get this legislation passed.'
'I just wished that people would remember the life she lived and be inspired by it,' Robertson said. "I think it is only fitting that they name (the) women's clinic after my mother, so everyone who goes to that clinic would know about my mother's history, her life, the story of the Six Triple Eight … and that she proudly served her country.'
The clinic could become even more important in the coming years. Women are the fastest-growing segment of the veteran population, projected to make up 18% of all veterans in 2040, compared to just 4% in 2000.
Democratic lawmakers in the state Capitol — including Moore's son, state Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde from Milwaukee — also introduced a joint resolution early this month to honor Robertson.
Resolutions express lawmakers' opinion and don't carry the force of law.
Two Republicans have signed onto the resolution, according to Moore Omokunde's office, and GOP legislative leaders could choose to schedule it for a vote during an upcoming floor session.
Robertson "(leaves) behind a profound legacy of resilience, service, and inspiration," the resolution reads.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee VA women's clinic could be named after Six Triple Eight hero
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