On the 70th anniversary of the Woman’s Armed Services Integration Act, which allowed women to serve as permanent, regular members of the military the Coastal Bend Women Veterans will celebrate their first-ever “Women Veterans Day” ceremony. [From KRISTV]

On Tuesday, June 12, the Mayor of Royse City will commemorate “Women’s Veterans Day” with the reading of a proclamation.  Female Veterans are being sought to attend the City Council meeting at 7PM to be a part of this event. [From Blue Ribbon News]

Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System (EOVAHCS) is starting a new Moral Injury & Reconciliation Clinic for women Veterans beginning June 8, 2018.  Moral injury is the wounding of the conscience from a traumatic experience such as combat or sexual trauma. [From Military.com]

Patients using the Veterans Affairs Choice program to avoid long wait times at department medical centers may still face months-long delays before seeing a doctor, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office released Monday.  And researchers say recently passed reforms to VA’s community care programs won’t fix those lengthy waits without dramatic improvements in data collection and monitoring of those outside care appointments. [From Military Times]

Temple University’s Military and Veteran Services Center (MVSC) was developed to not only be a safe space for the university’s military-connected students, but also a resource that positively impacts their entire higher education experience.  For the third consecutive year, Temple has been named one of the country’s best colleges for veterans by U.S. News & World Report. [From Diverse Education]

One Veteran’s Memorial Day message is going viral as an example of the everyday sexism female service members continue to face.  Former Navy service member JoAnn Ortloff took a moment last week to write a powerful post in the Facebook group Pantsuit Nation. [From A Plus]

Newly elected Cheryl Walker is the first female commander of the American Legion’s 19th District and, with husband Robbie Walker, who had the position earlier, the first couple to have headed the district.  She said she’ll try to get the best out of the 53 posts in the district, “each one unique,” and stress the four pillars of the American Legion:  Veterans affairs and rehabilitation, national security, Americanism and services for youth. [From The News-Gazette]

In the military, “got your six” is a phrase referencing having someone’s back.  It is mentioned in movies and television shows, but for Antoinette Wallace, it took connecting with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) to really feel it. [From PR Newswire]

Finding a career after serving in the military is arugably the first priority for transitioning service members but even with overall Veteran unemployment down, the job outlook for women Veterans remains bleak.  The U.S. Department of Labor reports that veteran unemployment – and specifically Post 9/11 veteran unemployment – is down. [From Connecting Vets]

Guest and combat Veteran Kayla Williams is the Director of the Women Veterans Center and an avid advocate for of this growing cohort of the Veteran population (10.5% by 2020).  Recognition and representation in key leadership positions creates progress we applaud. [From Mis Resource Radio]

Sexual assault is still a major issue for the military.  Reports rose by 10 percent last year, though there is some discussion about whether that is an increase in the number of assaults or an increased willingness of troops to come forward and report them. [From WFAE 90.7]

Many Vietnam war epics, such as “Apocalypse Now” and “Full Metal Jacket,” focus on the men who served in combat.  In Lower Columbia College’s newest production, the war is seen through the perspective of women. [From TDN]

Carson Valley’s Remarkable Women Veteran award was presented to Janet Peacock-Railey on Tuesday at The Record-Courier.  “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to attend, but I am surprised and honored to receive this recognition,” said Peacock-Railey. [From The Record-Courier]

The Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) is inviting men and women who have separated from any military service within the last five years to participate in a focus group.  TVHS leadership will use feedback from this focus group to improve the services offered to newly-separated Veterans. [From Clarksville Now]

When now retired Captain Lory Manning enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the end of Vietnam, women weren’t allowed to attend service academies, join R.O.T.C., or serve in combat roles.  Now, in 2018, all three career opportunities have been open to women service members and yet, there is still work to be done. [From Connecting Vets]

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Millie Dunn Veasey.  Millie served in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II. [From VAntage Point]

We honor her service.

Doris Harding has been dreaming of traveling since the day she was born.  Recently, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home team members had the pleasure of sitting down with her to discuss her time in the service. [From VAntage Point]

Traumatic brain injuries, a frequent consequence of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, can lead to such debilitating symptoms as irritability, depression, insomnia, memory deficits—and post-traumatic headaches, which are similar to migraine headaches.  Migraine is a potentially disabling disorder, causing severe headaches that can last days at a time and pose huge health care costs to the patient and society. [From VAntage Point]

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) represents a significant health concern for millions of Veterans and their families and friends.  The number of U.S. Veterans diagnosed with PTSD varies by service era. [From VAntage Point]

An Enid woman recently became the first African-American female to attain the highest enlisted rank in the Oklahoma Army National Guard, according to an Oklahoma Military Department press release.  Recently, 1st Sgt. Seretta Lawson was promoted to the rank of sergeant major, making her the first African-American woman to reach that rank in the Oklahoma Guard, according to the press release. [From Stars and Stripes]

Last Fall, as part of WCVE’s series on the Vietnam War, we shared the little-known story of women who served in the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines.  Every other year, the women meet at a conference. [From NPR]

VA announced that the White House has approved an interagency plan to implement President Trump’s executive order supporting Veterans with mental health care and suicide-prevention resources during their transition from uniformed service to civilian life.  Signed by the president in January, the executive order directs VA, the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to collaborate to provide, to the extent consistent with law, seamless access to mental health care and suicide prevention resources for Veterans, with a focus on the first year after separation from military service. [From VAntage Point]

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran June Wandrey Mann.  June was from Wautoma, Wisconsin and served in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II. [From VAntage Point]

We honor her service.

Sarah Holzhalb endured a marathon of funerals shortly after separating from the Coast Guard.  All these years later, the month of March still sucks. [From The War Horse]

Researchers may have found a possible link between blast exposure during military service and difficulty breathing and-or decreased exercise stamina among Burn Pit Registry participants.  Researchers previously had found links between smoke and particulate matter and pulmonary symptoms, but the link between explosion blast waves and cardiopulmonary symptoms several years after exposure is new. [From VAntage Point]

The suicide rate for female Veterans has soared 85 percent in recent years, leading the military, VA and advocacy groups to try new ways to improve women’s mental health care during and after service.  One key focus:  how to tailor the sometimes tricky jump from the military to the civilian world. [From NPR]

“It’s OK to turn the insult into an educational moment,” JoAnn Ortloff said. [From Huffington Post]

Did you serve in a combat zone or area of hostility, experience a military sexual trauma or serve as part of a mortuary affairs or drone crew?  If so, you qualify for free community-based counseling at a VA Vet Center, regardless of when you served. [From VAntage Point]

As a Veteran with PTSD, you deserve the best treatment available.  Whether you are seen at VA, in a Vet Center, or by a community provider, you need to feel sure that your care is working for you. [From VAntage Point]

Last year, I was dealing with some major life issues:  transitioning careers as an older adult and stressing about loved ones who were incarcerated. My energy was low, and my self-identity was in question.  As a single, divorced mom of two young adults, I was trying to be strong and cope with life all alone. [From Walmart Today]

The sixth female airman to try to become a tactical air control party airman has dropped out, the Air Force said last week.  Air Education and Training Command spokeswoman 1st Lt. Geneva Croxton said that the unidentified airman “self-eliminated” and is no longer in the pipeline. [From Air Force Times]

Lora Gaddy clenched a crumpled tissue as tears streamed down her face.  The bagpiper was playing “Amazing Grace” during the pre-Memorial Day ceremony Sunday at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery. [From Ledger-Enquirer]

A Janesville Veteran says she’s learned that there are plenty of public misconceptions about service animals. [From U.S. News]

Death is never easy.  Even when expected, a person’s death leaves a void for those who remain.  As a physician, it is especially difficult for me when one of my patients dies. [From Heavy]

Ralph Stepney’s home on a quiet street in north Baltimore has a welcoming front porch and large rooms, with plenty of space for his comfortable recliner and vast collection of action movies.  The house is owned by Joann West, a licensed caregiver who shares it with Stepney and his fellow Vietnam War Veteran Frank Hundt. [From The Washington Post]

The Veterans Legacy Program (VLP) is National Cemetery’s Administration’s educational outreach initiative.  Their mission is to memorialize our nation’s Veterans through sharing their stories of service and sacrifice. [From VAntage Point]

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Air Force Veteran Tamara Archuleta.  Tamara attended the University of New Mexico and participated in the Air Force ROTC program. [From VAntage Point]

We honor her service.

More than 1.4 million Veterans of all ages rely on government food assistance, but food insecurity is disproportionately common among post 9/11 Veterans.  Even before the sun was up, crowds gathered in the parking lot of the VA Austin Outpatient Clinic for its once-a-month pop-up food bank. [From North Country Public Radio]