Women Veterans Appreciation Day Celebration
In honor of Women Veterans Appreciation Day, June 12th, Backpacks For Life hosted a roundtable discussion to help spread awareness about the issues our women veterans face and to learn from women veterans about what we can do to continue amplifying their voices.
Aside from having this incredible discussion, we also launched a campaign sharing statistics and stories about women veterans on our Instagram AND we also launched the #LipstickChallenge. We heard from incredible women veterans across the country about what it means to them to a veteran, how they felt while serving and after serving and what they believe others can do to support them. Below, we compiled all their incredible responses to our survey.
What is Women Veterans Appreciation Day?
On June 12th 1948, The Women's Armed Services Integration Act was passed. This that women are now allowed to serve in the U.S Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and the Navy. Women Veterans Appreciation Day is the day that we honor and recognize all our women in service. It is also a day to acknowledge all the hardships women in service have to go through, that is uniquely different from the brothers in arms. It is important for us to amplify our voices when they are not being heard by others.
The #LipstickChallenge
“The lipstick challenge is an interactive way for people to get involved in supporting our women veterans while pushing people outside of their comfort zone in an effort to create change. It's always good to find comfort in laughing a little while serving overseas and we wanted to find a way to talk about serious issues while creating a fun way to bring attention to them. Similar to the Ice Bucket Challenge, individuals were able to participate, simply by following three simple steps; First, take a picture or video of themselves sharing a story about a woman veteran they might know or simply saying thank you; Next, put on some bright lipstick; Finally, nominate a few friends to join in on the challenge. The purpose of this challenge was to let people know that it is ok to show vulnerability as a human being and that our sisters in arms shouldn’t be fighting their battles alone.” - Sgt. Brett D’Alessandro, President of Backpacks For Life
There were also a handful of other symbolic touches to the event. The lipstick shade being used is called ‘Roger That,’ which was custom blended by Bergen County based salon, House of Beauty, in support of ROGER, Backpacks For Life’s search platform for New Jersey Veterans. Additionally, the Backpacks For Life team was sporting their Women in The Military T-shirt, which you can buy in the BFL shop. With each shirt purchased, BFL makes a contribution to the Military Women’s Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.
What is your proudest accomplishment in serving in the military?
I became something bigger than myself. I became part of the largest proudest family in the world! My military and veteran family.
To serve in the USAF was something I enjoyed whole heartedly. It made me realize a much greater potential than I had previously. As a Veteran my proudest moment was being part of AMVETS and being very active from the post to National. Also serving my fellow veterans helping a Veteran’s Representative for our town as well as any veteran I was able to help or direct them for help.
Boot camp. I went into the service both mentally and physically weak. I gained confidence and strength I’ve been able to build on ever since.
Being part of the first women veterans to be placed in a nontraditional career field -- military intelligence -- previously we were denied access.
As I served during a time of no conflict, I was proud of the physical fitness that I was able to achieve.
Serving in Operation OIF OEF.
My proudest accomplishment in my career to date was deploying to Afghanistan as the only female officer convoy commander and most importantly, brought everyone home safely. I led more than 20 tactical convoy operations in the country in one of the most kinetic parts of the world and brought everyone home - it's an accomplishment I don't feel I fully comprehend the magnitude of.
Graduating from Boot Camp as the "Molly Marine" and the Honor Graduate.
Being born in America automatically makes you the luckiest person on Earth... serving in the military gave me the opportunity to show that gratitude of freedom.
First Sergeant, Military Intelligence Company, 7th Special Forces Group, Ft Bragg NC. I was the top senior female enlisted in the Group. At that time our female population was 20.
Coming home from deployment with all my Marines in one piece.
My proudest accomplishment serving in the military was helping my Marines succeed, whether it was personally or professionally. As an officer, I was in the position to be able to help my Marines deploy which would help their career and promotion potential. I was able to meet their families and understand what difficulties they might have gone through with their spouse or children, and if there was any way I could help lighten their load I would always try my best to.
As a LCpl, I received a Letter of Appreciation from the Commanding Officer of Company B, HQ+Svc Bn, MCB, Camp Butler Okinawa in August 1975 for support of the Class I Financial Acctg System (aka PRIME) after putting in countless hours of OT that included weekends to aid MCAS Iwakuni in the implementation of their financial computer system.
Leading a non-profit of women Veterans.
Feeling that I made a difference
Being activated after the 9/11 attacks under Operation Enduring Freedom.
Earning the rank of Sergeant Major in the U.S. Marine Corps while raising six children. I have a lot of proud accomplishments in my 24 year career to include 12 years serving with infantry units long before women were allowed to serve there. I survived it all and grew more confident along the way with amazing skills I learned that I never would've known if I hadn't experienced these duty assignments.
Being able to multitask as a mother and a Marine. Also getting my third expert rifle badge
Earning the title United States Marine
Why did you choose to join the military?
My father said I would never make through basic training. So I joined and didn’t tell him until the night before I left.
My best friend and I had talked about joining for about a year. We entered the delayed entry program.
I was young and didn’t have goals so I looked to the military for direction.
I grew up in a rural area and both of my parents had an 8th grade education. I was expected to graduate from high school and move out when I was 18.. I was accepted to college. However. I was required to live on campus the first year and no housing was available. I scored high on the Armed Forces battery test. My dad served in the Army during the Korean War and spoke proudly of his time in service and the friendships he made. I felt I had good skills that the service could utilize in exchange I would have a roof over my head, food in my stomach, money to pay my bills and I could receive a 4 year college education when I got out. I was naive. The GI bill no longer existed. It was replaced with a poor substitute, the VEAP program. However, despite that, serving in the military was one of my best decisions. I will always have my military family which has my back.
To protect my family and my families freedom, and because, I COULD.
First and foremost, I love representing my country! Physical and mental challenges have always been something I gravitate towards and I'm also someone who doesn't like to necessarily be doing what is popular or expected. When I joined I had longtime friends ask why I would do such a thing, I'm such a girlie girl - and that was partly why I joined! I also grew up with my brother leaving home after high school to join the Army and I was still very little and for a while, the military took on a mystique and was something I though I could never do because it just sounded difficult. As I grew and my confidence increased and my love of being active was flourishing, I knew I wanted to try what so many people didn't and join the military. My brother (who was also my recruiter) dropped me off for Basic Training and I was nervous. He said, 'It's the fear of the unknown but you're going to do so well.' And his words couldn't have been more true. I remember going for a run with a friend during our Advanced Individual Training when there was still a running route at Fort Meade, MD 14 years ago, we were fast friends and on one of our daily runs and I said, 'Can you believe we are here? And not only are we here, but we kicked ass on our way to get here?!' I also had a neighbor who moved in down the street from my parents and both the husband and wife were retired military. She was highly decorated, extremely intelligent and had a very commanding presence for only being 5 feet 2 inches. Her experiences and incredible stories were the tipping point I needed to fully solidify my decision to serve.
I was unsure of my future.. a bit more afraid to go to college than I was to join the military. I didn't have the funds or support to go to college.
Discipline. I knew I was lacking it and I wanted it.
I wanted to follow my dad's footsteps. My dad had always instilled in my sister and brother a high sense of patriotism. The military always intrigued me and this was one way I could truly connect with my dad, my uncles and my cousins who had served. We served in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. We were a well rounded family.
I joined the military to get out of my hometown. I went to a high school that had the highest pregnancy rate in the city and had lots of gang and drug activity. I grew up near an Air Force base because my father was in the Air Force, so I knew that the military was an option for me to leave. I chose the Marine Corps because of the challenge and camaraderie.
Family tradition! For ALL the men, until I came along. My father and several uncles were Marines.
I was raised in a patriotic family (my dad served in the Navy in WWII in the Pacific). I was one of seven children from a small farm town in OH. I had a great job and I remember I was happy after high school with the world ahead of me. But something inside me knew there was some new adventures out there for me but I had to go find them, which meant I had to leave home. So in December 1974, I came home after work and told my parents I was going to Cleveland the next day to enlist in the Marine Corps. Being a girl from a small town, saying that I was going to Cleveland and enlisting in the Marine Corps in the same sentence was just not heard of in my family. I was just a few months away from turning 20 and my dad was proven right about my stubbornness and independence and he knew there was little to say to change my mind.
To rebel, my Father was an attorney for the Navy. He told me to finish college and then join. I ran to the nearest Marine recruiting station and enlisted.
A calling to serve my country, as well as gaining the experience in uniform, holding myself to a higher standard.
What is the one thing you want people to know about Women Veterans?
Women Veterans are a vital part of the military. We bring a “Women’s” point of view. One being to work smarter not harder. We also have empathy that some male counterparts don’t have. We are loyal, kind. caring, compassionate etc...
We are just as strong as men both mentally and physically
That we proudly served too!!
I want people to know that women serve too! Not just our dads, brothers and husbands.
We can do/ and have done everything the men can do. No matter what they tell you.
Being a woman in the military means you carry on the legacy of the pioneers before us. It's because of those women who wanted to be a part of something bigger and be a part of a solution that we're able to do the same and also serve today.
Women in general are resilient.. women Veterans? Well, that's a whole new level.
We can accomplish the mission. With each iteration of women in the military more doors open for the next group.
We serve with the same levels of effort, pride, and accomplishment as our brother veterans.
That women veterans have been supporting our nation for many years, not just the most recent ones. I think there has been much more of an effort to have the voices of women veterans amplified, but women have been fighting on the front lines from as far back as Margaret Corbin during the American Revolutionary War.
We are strong, dedicated women, who love our country. We are as varied as wildflowers, but have a common heart and soul.
We signed our name to defend the country, not you have to prove ourselves everyday and defend ourselves everyday. Also we come home from war but war also stays with us when we come home. Including what happens to us from our own troops.
Our tough exterior doesn’t mean we lose our feminine side. We can move mountains but can also be nurturing.
You are a Veteran-- OWN your Herstory
We are not invisible! We are living, breathing patriots who have passion beyond measure in continuing to serve our country just like any other veteran.
There was this quote that I can not remember but was about stepping forward with grit yet anchored with grace.... I feel that is our biggest strength as women who served.
We are some of the most resilient and driven humans on the planet. We had to work 3 times as hard to get half the recognition our brothers do and we still voluntarily take on that task and prevail.
How can someone acknowledge a Women Veteran appropriately?
The same way you would acknowledge any other service person.
By engaging with them in conversation opposed to the general ignoring that we could possibly have served. Ask a woman if they served when in the present of a man oppose assuming just the man served.
Do not assume when we wear clothing displaying our military affiliation that we are doing so in support of others who served or a spouse. Recently, I volunteered at a fund raiser. I and another woman who served were wearing hats displaying our branch of service along side 2 male veterans who were wearing their hats. A woman came along and thanked the men for their service and shook their hands. I extended mine and said "You're welcome. We served too" That bold move took her aback and we engaged in a conversation. We developed a friendship, and she is very supportive of women veterans.
Be inquisitive. Ask when and where did they serve and what was their MOS. Offer gratitude for their service.
In initial conversations with people, I don't lead with my service. Eventually, I bring it up and I'm almost always met with, "You don't look like a veteran." So for that I would say a "Thank you for your service" would suffice.
Difficult to answer.. because some women don't "look the part" and the reaction can be quite humiliating. I would say being recognized as a human being without being identified as a WOMAN veteran.
A Veteran is a Veteran. Period. There aren't different levels. When you sign up, you have no idea what your experience will be or where you'll go. We all make a decision to serve without knowing the outcome of that decision.
Simply accept the fact we have served and continue to serve. I greatly appreciate the "I Am Not Invisible" campaign for promoting women in the military.
"Thank you for your service" is fine, though it sometimes makes me feel awkward. Whatever you would do for or say to a male veteran is fine; just treat us the same way.
Ask about her service and not disregard it, or assume that she is a spouse of a veteran.
By providing us with all the same services available to the male veterans and recognizing our contributions the same way they would a man's.
Ask any female if she’s ever served. Don’t be biased on who you ask.
Appreciate the mental and physical strength it takes to serve. We aren’t men, nor want to be. Our female instinct to protect overcomes any physical or mental challenge.
Assume she is a veteran unless otherwise confirmed. Ask.
Thank you for your service Ma'am.
Give back to put beautiful world, your community, be kind and help those who go without.
Assume we are the veteran in general. Not the daughter, girlfriend, spouse or sister of the veteran, and act accordingly. Recognize the difficulties and sacrifices we make to have families, be wives, mothers and continue to serve the American people.