Air Force, from left, Kit Standefer of Chattanooga, Adrienne McMillan of Chattanooga, Rebecca Jacobs of Hixson, Jo Ruta of Chattanooga, Gloria Gray of Hixson, Martha Levardsen of North Chattanooga, Gigi Albi of Cleveland, Susan Lindsey of Hixson and Robin Flockerzi of Chattanooga.
Army, from left, seated: Sheila Billings of Harrison and Rita Waller of Chattanooga. Standing, Deborah James of Chattanooga, Debra Shadwick of McDonald, Tn., Cathy Brown of Chattanooga, JROTC Cadet Jessica Dillard of Soddy Daisy, Renee Chisholm of Chattanooga, Shelly Galloway of Chattanooga, Angela Lawrence of Chattanooga, Beth Wingfield of Crandall, Ga., Lurline Person of Chattanooga and Deborah Kendrick of Chattanooga.
Marine, from left, seated, Patricia Pollard of Chickamauga and Penny Mann of Chattanooga. Standing, Robin Flockerzi of Chattanooga and Rita Waller of Chattanooga.
Navy, from left, seated, Gloria Wix of Nashville, Patty Parks of Ooltewah and Chris Huber of Nashville. Standing, Linda Cantrell of Nashville, Deanna Allman of Nashville, Lisa Suchenicz of Nashville, Donna Henderson of Nashville, Barbara Pascoe of Cleveland, Carol Ransom of Nashville, Tina Hale of Trion, Ga., Pat Shay of Cleveland, Laura Holder of Soddy Daisy, Arran Grazier Williams of East Ridge, Wendy Burke of Rock Springs and Joyce Campbell of Hixson.
From left, 1st Vice President Cathy Brown (Army) of Chattanooga, President Rita Waller (Marines and Army) of Chattanooga, Secretary Gloria Gray (Air Force) of Hixson and Treasurer Patty Parks (Navy) of Ooltewah.
From left, Jessica Dillard of Soddy Daisy High School JROTC and Lurline Person of Chattanooga representing the future and the past of military women
Navy veteran Laura Holder of Soddy Daisy made patriotic angels for everyone.
Army veteran Renee Chisholm of Chattanooga shows off her service flag
President Rita Waller can still “fit” in her USMC cover
History display
Some 40 military women joined by family and friends launched the inaugural unit of Military Women Across the Nation in Chattanooga. TriState Women Veterans, a network of military women from Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama who have met socially for several years were chartered as Unit #157 of Military Women Across the Nation, a federally-chartered, 501(c)(19) veteran service organization.
“Overwhelmed is an understatement!” Unit President Rita Waller said commenting on the “room full of beautiful military women” who came out to join and support the unit. Rita served in the U.S. Army and in the U.S. Marine Corps during the 1970’s and 1980’s.
“This has been a wonderful experience because when I came back, I was lonely and had no sisters to call my own,” she said.
“I was at a bible retreat and met Sandy Hughes (another unit member and U.S. Army veteran) who said, ‘Have you heard about TriState Women Veterans?’ That was the beginning of a fantastic relationship.”
The new unit’s 36 (and counting) charter members include women who have served in the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force as well as the Army and Air National Guard. Several members have served in multiple services.
“We still need to find some Coast Guard gals,” said U.S. Navy-retiree Patty Parks. As the Tennessee State director for Military Women Across the Nation, Ms. Parks conducted the unit chartering ceremony and officer installation. She is also Unit #157’s treasurer.
Other unit officers include First Vice President Cathy Brown who served in the Women’s Army Corps from 1966 through 1968 and Secretary Gloria Gray, an Air Force veteran.
TriState Women Veterans evolved into more than just a social group as local military women sought answers and assistance regarding veteran benefits and desired to do more in the service of their communities along with sharing their common histories, Ms. Parks said.
To allow greater variety in their service options, TriState Women Veterans members voted in October to join Military Women Across the Nation.
A national organization with some 2,000 members, Military Women Across the Nation was originally chartered in 1979 as “WAVES National” with membership limited to women of the sea services. However, the organization changed its name in 2014 and immediately opened membership to women who have served honorably in any U.S. military service.
While all “WAVES National” units converted to Military Women Across the Nation units in 2014, TriState Women Veterans #157 is the first unit chartered since name and policy changes.
The chartering ceremony included displays of military memorabilia, the history of women in the military, a cake cutting and door prizes.
Unit members received well wishes (printed in the charter program) from Military Women members nationwide including the current National President Dassa Carvey of Virginia Beach and past National Presidents Sharon Woods of Williamsburg, Ks., Barb Turner of Flower Mound, Tx. and Jan Roy of Grandville, Mi.
The unit also received written congratulations from Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke and Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger.
TriState Women Veterans, Unit #157 will continue to serve and support all military women in the Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama areas. For information on joining TriState Women Veterans Unit #157, contact Ms. Parks at 326-0839 or pattyjoparks@yahoo.com.