FEATURED ARTICLES

Connecting With Veterans From Another Generation

When Tish McCullough set out for Branson, Missouri to speak at the Vietnam Women Veterans Conference, she was nervous. An Iraq War veteran, Tish wasn't from their era. How would these "forces to be reckoned with" perceive her and the message she planned to share? Find out by clicking here.

When Janey Comes Marching Home: A Book About Loss, Comradeship & Conflict

While women are officially barred from combat in the American armed services, in the current war, where there are no front lines, the ban on combat is virtually meaningless. More than in any previous conflict in our history, American women are engaging with the enemy, suffering injuries, and even sacrificing their lives in the line of duty.

This must-read book juxtaposes forty-eight self-posed photographs by Sascha Pflaeging with oral histories collected by Laura Browder to provide a dramatic portrait of women at war. Women from all five branches of the military share their stories here-moving stories that are comic, thought-provoking, and profound. Seeing their faces in stunning color photographic portraits and reading what they have to say about loss, comradeship, conflict, and hard choices will change the ways people think about women and war.

In addition to the book, a documentary film is in the works, and a traveling photo exhibition has recently arrived at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. The exhibition will be in Arlington through September 5, 2010. If you're a DC local or you have plans to travel to the area over the summer, don't miss the opportunity to learn about these women and their stories. For a taste of the portraits, check out this slideshow.

Your First Friend at the VFW

Did you know that 1 out of 5 individuals coming home from deployments are female? This is a significant number. Who's looking out for them? To illustrate just how much the VFW cares for the woman veteran, they've created a position that ensures these ladies and female veterans from all eras are taken care of.  With a goal of ensuring each state signs a pact showing its support for women veterans, every state department now has a Women Veterans Chairperson. This female leader is an invaluable asset to the woman veteran, providing a vital link between her and the VFW. The Chairperson is the department commander's senior advisor on issues relating to female vets and current members of the US Armed Forces.

Responsible for assisting in the recruitment and retention of female veterans and qualified members of the Armed Forces, the Chairperson will be present whenever there's a unit welcome home, a special recruiting event, or women veterans forum.  Given the contact information for all female vets within her department who've joined online or at-large, she helps new members find their niche within the VFW.  The Chairperson helps match at-large members to the most appropriate VFW Post and also follows up with first-year members to help them find a new Post if they are not happy with their current one.

The Women Veterans Chairperson's main job is to serve the female veteran. Think of her as your liaison and friend - a person who will ease you into the VFW and help you extract the most from your membership!

Helping the Homeless Vet

Committed to ending homelessness among America's veterans, the VA has established a new telephone hotline to help veterans find food, shelter, and assistance. Well-trained expert responders staff the hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure veterans receive the help they need and deserve. Learn more about this latest initiative to assist homeless veterans.