On Oct. 15 women veterans from across Minnesota gathered for their annual luncheon and meeting at the Ft. Snelling Officers Club. The Minnesota Women Marines were in charge of the luncheon that served approximately 60 women and door prizes of military theme blankets.

The treasurer’s report included thank you notes from last year’s donations. This year’s recipients of a donation of $100 to each were, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Armed Forces Service Center; Camp Ripley Women in Military Museum; the Patriot Guard and the Ft. Snelling Honor Guard. It was reported that the Ft. Snelling Honor Guard were the first organized Honor Guard in the United States that provided military honors for all service men and women providing over 57,000 memorials since starting in June 1975.

Reports were received from the Women Marines, The Minnesota Society of Air Force Nurses, The Women in Military Service to America Central MN Unit and the Freeborn County Women Veterans. The Women’s Army Corp was disbanded last year and this year the Navy’s Women Accepted for Voluntary Service disbanded due to declining membership since women serve in an intergraded Military today. But even with declining numbers in all groups good things were still reported. The WIMSA-Central MN continue to make cards and calendars and PJ’s for hospitalized veterans and assist with Stand down’s to help homeless Veterans and FBC Women Veterans donated two prayer shaws knitted by Patricia Johannsen and blessed by St. Theodore Catholic Church.

This year’s speaker was Barb O’Reilly, Director of Women Veterans & Employment Initiative. O’Reilly reported on different issues which also included finding housing and assisting veterans find needed services. And it was noted that Kay Bowers a Minnesota Vietnam veteran wrote a book called the Sisterhood of War, Vietnam nurses that would be presented at the next meeting of the Historical Center on Oct. 25. Other special guests were past veterans commissioner Bernie Melter and Air Force Hall of famer, Elizabeth Strofus.

Attending from Freeborn County were Marge Lukecart, Joan Paczkowski, Ruth Perry, Julie Hamson, Sandy Maiden, Patricitia Johannsen and Arvilla Clemetson.

If interested in joining the Minnesota women veterans go to the Women Veterans Initiative Group website and click on Women Veterans.