U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs CWV - News Update

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Nurse Corps Veteran Mary Elizabeth Shuler Lefebre.  Mary served from 1941 to 1946 as a nurse during World War II. [From VAntage Point]

We honor her service.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Gabrielle Young recently paid a visit to her hometown here, but she didn’t make the trip just to visit with friends and loved ones. [From U.S. Department of Defense]

What to read, watch and visit to learn about the role of women in the conflict. [From The Washington Post]

All four members of the state’s Congressional delegation have sent a letter to officials at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, requesting improved facilities for female Veterans who receive care at the Manchester VA Medical Center. [From New Hampshire Union Leader]

Army Spc. Stephanie Morris added a gold medal in discus, a silver in shot put and a bronze in hand cycle in the women’s track and field competition in her disability category here at the 2017 Invictus Games this week. [From U.S. Department of Defense]

Medically retired Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Sarah Rudder broke another personal record and took home gold medals in the women’s 100-meter and 200-meter dashes during track and field competition at the 2017 Invictus Games here Sept. 24. [From Connecting Vets]

Africa’s women are disproportionately the victims of their continent’s armed conflicts, but they have also been increasingly leading the way in recent years in ending conflicts and negotiating peace. [From U.S. Department of Defense]

When former Air Force volleyball and arena football player medically retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Sebastiana Lopez-Arellano almost died in a motorcycle accident in 2015, she said she never thought she would be able to play sports again. [From U.S. Department of Defense]

As Sharona Young, a medically retired Navy chief petty officer, crossed the finish line here at the 2017 Invictus Games at High Park Sept. 26, she was in shock that she had earned her first medal in an athletic competition. [From U.S. Department of Defense]

Beverly Buchanan, a nurse educator at the William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center was selected as one of the spokesperson’s for the 2017 Go Red for Women Real Women by the American Heart Association.  The American Heart Association recently selected Beverly Buchanan of VA’s William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia, South Carolina, as one of its national spokespersons. [From VAntage Point]

History has been made.  The United States Marine Corps now counts a woman infantry officer among its ranks.  The lieutenant graduated Monday from the brutal, 13-week Infantry Officer Course. [From CNN]

Grammy and Dove Award-nominated songwriter Bob Regan founded Operation Song, a music-based therapy program, in 2012, collaborating with Grammy Award-nominated songwriter Don Goodman and music therapist Tina Haynes.  Operation Song’s mission is to empower Veterans and active duty military to tell their stories through songwriting. [From VAntage Point]

The Albany Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, New York, is always seeking new ways to connect women Veterans with support that meets their unique needs.  This focus frequently extends to the annual VA mental health summits, where we discuss issues that women Veterans face and ways to apply what we’ve learned at our facility. [From VAntage Point]

This month, VA would like to raise awareness of breast cancer and emphasize the importance of early detection.  One in every eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the National Cancer Institute. [From VAntage Point]

On Sept. 20, VA and AMVETS hosted an #ExploreVA Facebook Live event on suicide prevention to discuss how to support Veterans in need of help.  During the event, Joe Chenelly, executive director of AMVETS, and Megan McCarthy, deputy director of Suicide Prevention for VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, discussed the difficulties Veterans and service members face, how to identify and support someone at risk and where to find VA resources and treatment options. [From VAntage Point]

While she was at The Basic School, 2nd Lt. Mariah Klenke decided to become the Marine Corps’ first female assault amphibian officer.  “We were going over all of the MOSs and [amphibious assault vehicles] popped up and to me it just stuck out,” Klenke told Marine Corps Times. [From Marine Corps Times]

As technology becomes seamlessly integrated into every aspect of our lives, there is no question that the future of our workforce and competitiveness will depend on our love for math and science.  That is why STEM, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, is a hot new topic challenging everything from the way preschool education is delivered to how public and private investments are allocated. [From The Huffington Post]

Of the 600,000 Veterans who call Washington State Home, it is estimated that one in five have some level of a traumatic brain injury (TBI).  To help them, the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs recently launched the Max Impact TBI App aimed at empowering Veterans, family, friends and caregivers of Veterans living with the effects of traumatic brain injury. [From VAntage Point]

History serves as a testament that, despite being barred from enlisting and being marginalized in the line of duty, women have continued to fight for their rights to serve their country. [From Mic]

The fastest growing population group in the military today is women who currently comprise 14.5 percent of active duty personnel and 18 percent of National Guard and Reserves.  The face of VA healthcare is changing. [From VAntage Point]

It took the threat of dealing with a medical emergency overseas for Beverly Buchanan to push doctors for an explanation to what was causing the symptoms she’d been experiencing for more than two months.  It turned out to be a major blockage in her main coronary artery, and would require open-heart bypass surgery.  Read more ’ [From Go Red for Women]

Recently we had Patricia Greene, a female Veteran who experienced positive customer service at the Orlando VAMC Women's Health Clinic. [From Orlando VA Medical Center Facebook]

The Schultz Family Foundation has partnered with Travis Manion Foundation to provide support and mentorship opportunities for transitioning Veterans.  Travis Manion Foundation empowers Veterans and the families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations. [From VAntage Point]

Ah, the glass ceiling.  There it floats, just overhead.  It’s so alluringly crystal-clear, so temptingly translucent, it’s easy to convince yourself it isn’t really there   right up until the moment you crash it into it full-tilt. [From The Baltimore Sun]

VA announced the formation of the Veterans’ Family, Caregiver and Survivor Federal Advisory Committee as part of VA secretary Dr. David Shulkin’s commitment to supporting our nation’s Veterans and those who care for them. [From VAntage Point]