Honoring Women’s Service - Tampa VA Celebrates Women Veterans Recognition Day

This significant legislation permanently integrated women into the U.S. military, transforming the landscape for female service members across the nation.

The celebration was held on the main campus in the auditorium, where an estimated 100 Women Veterans, VA staff, and volunteers gathered to honor the contributions of women in the armed forces. 

In her welcoming remarks, Dr. Kathy Hendrix, Associate Director, Patient Care Services acknowledged the importance of Women Veterans.

“I stand before you today to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of women in our military. Today, we gather to recognize their unwavering commitment to our nation, their relentless pursuit of excellence, and the countless sacrifices they have made in the name of freedom and security.”

Attendees were treated to breakfast, flowers, journals and art/writing/activity kits. They were also given a copy of “(A) River Rising”, an anthology of literary and artistic works celebrating women writers and artists. The Women Veterans were encouraged with an icebreaker to introduce themselves to each other to foster friendships and relationships.  The camaraderie was felt throughout the room.

Army Veteran Alba Tollinchi spoke to the importance of the event.

 “To me, when people think of Veterans they usually don’t think of women. Even in my own family, I don’t get recognized sometimes. This is why events like this are vital to our female Veterans.”

The event began with an invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem.  Dr. Dana Glenn, the Women’s Health Medical Director gave the welcoming remarks and spoke about what the event meant to her personally.

“One of the highlights for me was the opportunity to shake hands with many attendees, witness their smiles of appreciation and listen to the inspiring stories of women who triumphed over significant challenges. This event deepened my gratitude for the freedom we enjoy in our country. It was truly wonderful to meet so many of our nation's heroes.” 

The event featured a series of engaging speakers, a panel of Women Veterans discussed the importance of how women form special bonds through stories and shared moments of their military experiences. Angela Nimmo, Deputy Associate Director, Patient Care Services, described what it meant to her to be a part of the panel.

“It was an honor to be part of the Women Veterans celebration, the stories shared were inspirational, courageous, and reminded us that we owe a lot to the women who came before us. It is a privilege and honor to serve in our armed forces and to truly understand what it takes to be a patriot.”

Next was a guided reading and writing circle, led by Brittni Cleland, a Tampa VA creative arts therapist. The women were truly engaged in the activity. There was robust discussion between their small groups with many laughs and some tears as they shared their experiences, memories and thoughts.

Throughout the afternoon, stories were exchanged among women of all ages—some who served in conflicts decades ago and others who recently returned from deployment. Each story highlighted the unique challenges and triumphs faced on their journeys. Many attendees expressed gratitude for the comradeship fostered at the event. Army Veteran Paulette Gallow explained.

 “It’s nice to be able to spend time with other women who have been through some of the things that I’ve been through. My husband is also military, but it’s different when it’s a woman’s point of view versus a man’s.”

With initiatives like Women Veterans Recognition Day, the Tampa VA continues to lead the charge in highlighting the essential contributions of women in the military. Army Veteran Zayle Ruiz agrees.

“This day for me, just shows the prospects for women moving forward. My mother is a Veteran, and she did not get a chance to have opportunities like this. The fact that I am able to attend events like this just shows that there has been a lot of improvement in the recognition for the service that women have provided their country.” 

 As the event concluded, the message lingered:  Women Veterans are not only integral to the fabric of the armed forces but also to the everyday narrative of resilience, strength, and service to our nation.

Link to photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jahvh/albums/with/72177720326997292