Latest news with #Women'sArmedServicesIntegrationAct
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Women Veterans Day: Air Force veteran reflects on military career
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) – June 12th is Women Veterans Day, which marks the anniversary of the 1948 Women's Armed Services Integration Act. This allowed women to serve as active members of the U.S. military. Before 1948, women served in temporary or volunteer roles without veteran benefits. Texas is home to over 200,000 women veterans. The Texas Veterans Commission urges women to claim benefits and offers year-round support through its Women Veterans program. I had the opportunity to speak with Air Force veteran Jane Winston, who is advising women who want to join the military to have a strong mindset. 'You've got to be strong within yourself,' Winston says. 'You've got to be courageous and not let somebody tell you you're not enough.' Today and every day, FOX 44 News sends thanks to all women who have served, and those who are currently serving our country. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
VA Medical Center celebrates women veterans with ceremony
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — The James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center celebrated women veterans with a ceremony at the Wall of Healing Wednesday afternoon. The celebration commemorates the day in 1948 when President Harry S. Truman signed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act. That signing brought forth women to join all branches of the US Armed Forces. Andrea Hollen, an Altoona native, was among the first women to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Her time as a plebe provided some hardships from her classmates near the Hudson River. 'I was a little caught off guard, knocked off balance by the hostility and the harassment, which did go beyond what most plebes would expect,' Hollen said. 'But, you know, I have to say I was well prepared for West Point.' As a pioneer of women joining the military, she helped pave the way for others to enlist. She saw a plethora of women listening to her testimony of her time in service, who had a similar experience. 'Back when I was a commander, I could not have imagined the progress we've seen,' Hollen added. 'For example, I never thought I would see women with ranger tabs on their shoulders, women being able to go to ranger school and become rangers. Look at the approaching 4,000 women who served in frontline combat roles in Iraq and Afghanistan. The progress has been remarkable.' With Hollen set to deliver a speech to the women veterans were retired Brigadier General and Deputy Adjutant General for the Pennsylvania Department of Veterans Affairs, Maureen Weigl and Sergeant First Class and Mrs. Pennsylvania International, Amanda Strandburg. Their message was similar to the idea of celebrating women who served in the military and their importance. 'We celebrate all of the women who have served because without their service, we wouldn't be where we are today,' Strandburg said. 'Like it or not, they are part of the backbone of our military, and they contribute just as much as the males.' The ceremony provided benefits and resources available to those veterans who may not have gotten them before. Learning about these items gives those thinking about joining the military a chance to take the challenge. 'There could still be a stigma, but I would challenge any girl or any woman who wants to challenge themselves and experience something greater than themselves to go ahead and maybe answer that call,' Strandburg said. 'I personally think any challenge is there to be tackled.' 'We need top talent, and that includes women and men together in truly cohesive units,' Hollen added. 'I think the progress we've made is helping to form those units and ensure our dominance on the battlefield.' And with the stigma that Holland faced at West Point, that went out the window once they fell into formation. 'My soldiers didn't care about my gender. They just cared about 'Did I know my stuff? Was I physically fit? Was I a wise leader?' Hollen said. 'I think that has only improved more and more once you get out of all the distractions of the political debates and just get to work in your unit. You find soldiers, get past all their differences, and learn to combine their strengths and talents in remarkable ways.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Okaloosa County announces two statues for Women Veterans' Day
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – June 12, 2025, marks the third Annual Women Veterans' Day ceremony at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center for Okaloosa County. According to a news release, Okaloosa County officials announced two new statues will be unveiled. At 8 a.m. on June 12, a wreath-laying ceremony will be held at the Women Veterans Monuments at Veterans Park, with Commander 1st Operations Mission Support Group Col. Kristen Wood as this year's keynote speaker. The State of Florida recognized Women Veterans Day by proclamation from Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2021. It is a day that acknowledges President Truman's signing of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act that established the Women's Army Corps in the Regular Army and authorized enlistment and appointment of women in the Regular Air Force, Regular Navy, and Marine Corps. Wellness Wednesday: Weight, Muscle, and Endurance 'This event has become a beloved tradition for everyone in our community to recognize and appreciate the women who have served in our military since the Revolutionary War,' Okaloosa County Vice Chairman Carolyn Ketchel said. The new statues will recognize Captain Linda Bray and Florence Ebersole Smith Finch. Captain Linda Bray, who led her company during a firefight in Panama in 1989 when it was illegal for women to engage in combat. She was recently awarded the Bronze Star with V Device for her actions. Florence Ebersole Smith Finch worked with the Philippine underground to smuggle supplies to POWs during WWII. She joined the Coast Guard after being imprisoned and tortured by the Japanese and was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon and the Medal of Freedom. The statues will be officially placed at a later date. The Women Veterans Monuments at Veteran Park were unveiled by Okaloosa County in 2021. Eight women who served in combat are honored with life-size bronze statues. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
