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Women among vets honored Wednesday
Published November 12, 2009
When Washington crossed the Delaware to take Trenton, women served with the Continental Army.
They have served in every conflict ever since — although their contribution has often been overshadowed by the men who served in direct combat — those who lived to remember and those who died should be honored by us all.
Thursday’s joint Veterans Day remembrance was dedicated to those who served in all branches of the military and to those who lost their lives in last week’s tragedy at Fort Hood. But this time, the women were not left out — they were singled out in the Guadalupe County Veterans Council’s second annual Veterans Day celebration at a newly rejuvenated Veterans Park. This year’s ceremony is dedicated to the women who have served this country in its military.
“Women have served since the country’s revolt from British rule in 1776,” said J.P. Amador, commander of the American G.I. Forum’s Manuel Castilla Chapter in Seguin.
The women who served with Washington’s army sewed flags and repaired uniforms for half the pay and only half the food rations of their male counterparts.
They had no uniforms of their own, Amador said.
“Their chief role was to carry water to the artillery,” Amador said.
Women have long experienced difficulty in finding acceptance in the military, Amador said — although acceptance always has seemed to rise in times of war — and women have served in every one of this nation’s wars, and even though they were restricted from combat roles, they have been shot at, wounded, killed and taken captive in every one of them.
In World War II, every branch of the service had its own women’s corps — the WACs, the WAVES, the WAFs and others, but the biggest change of all came in 1948 with the passage of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, which opened up regular service in the military to women in peacetime as well as wartime, except in regular combat roles.
In the 1970s, women’s roles were expanded even further, and in the 1990s, combat roles in the Navy and Air Force opened to women for the first time.
About 41,000 women went to Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and in 2006, 197,000 women served in the U.S. armed forces — about 13.4 percent of all military personnel.
Geronimo VFW Commander Bill Owen said about 500,000 women served in the U.S. armed forces in World War II, while 120,000 served during Korea. About 7,000 served in Vietnam, he said.
Both Amador and Owen called on 300 or so veterans and residents to not forget the contribution of women to this country’s freedoms.
“Women have made and still make up a significant part of our military,” Owen said.
“As you can see, women have really earned their place in our military,” Amador said. “Our women veterans have performed, and today we salute them.”
Wednesday’s guest speaker was U.S. Air Force Maj. Deidre Gurry, who flies the C-17 Globemaster, one of the largest military aircraft in the world.
She spoke of the changes in the military in regards to women, and of what it is like to serve her country in a field dominated by men.
Most of the conscious bias against women has been consciously stamped out, she said, although examples of unconscious bias still exist.
While there have been very few moments in her career, she said, where she personally felt the bias or discrimination of her male counterparts, every woman in the military must still prove herself every day.
“We’re out there and we’re trying to make a difference,” Gurry told the crowd. “We thank you all for the opportunity. Thank you very much!”
Mayor Betty Ann Matthies and County Judge Mike Wiggins joined the commanders of the county’s four active veteran’s groups in brief remarks.
Matthies asked the crowd to remember not only veterans of both sexes, but the people who are away from home, serving their country now.
“We think of our people being in harm’s way when they serve overseas, but Fort Hood showed us they’re in harm’s way every day,” Matthies said. “And just as our military and our veterans have served, so have their families. We thank you for the job you’ve done, and we thank you for the job you’re doing. A day like this one where we have the opportunity to gather like this and celebrate, that is a freedom secured for us by our military and its veterans.”
Wiggins said he said a little prayer for the military and military veterans as he arrived at Veterans Park.
He urged the crowd not to take its veterans and the freedoms they earned their country for granted.
If those attending enjoyed spending a holiday with their families and with their neighbors, Wiggins said, they should thank a veteran.
“Without their courage, commitment and sacrifice, none of these would be possible,” the judge said.
More than 14,000 veterans live in Guadalupe County, Wiggins said, and the county appreciates their choice to call this area home, as well as their service to the community.
“The Commissioner’s Court supports you and is here to serve you,” Wiggins said. “Let us know if there’s anything you need that’s within our power. We’re there for you.”
Marlin Howze, Commander of the Seguin chapter of the Disabled American Veterans, said most people think of veterans as old men wearing strange hats — like his own folding DAV hat — who always stand up first to salute the flag at sporting events.
As more and more women serve in the armed forces, Howze said, the DAV is encountering more and more women veterans in need of its services.
“In the future, don’t be surprised when you see a woman in a funny hat, standing first to salute the flag,” Howze said.
Like Howze, Wiggins said the demographics and the stereotypes of veterans are changing.
Most people, he said, think of veterans as grizzled old army sergeants or salty old chief petty officers.
Wiggins took a moment to look around at a few who fit that mold — and smiled.
“We have many women who have served alongside these crusty old guys,” Wiggins said. “My hat’s off to all of them.”
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