WDVA e-News March 2022

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs sent this bulletin at 03/18/2022 11:56 AM CDT

MARCH 2022

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Anna Mae Robertson and WDVA Secretary Mary Kolar 3.4.22

WDVA Secretary Kolar honors Anna Mae Robertson of the 'Six-Triple-Eight'

On Friday, March 4, WDVA Secretary Mary Kolar joined others in celebrating Anna Mae Robertson, a Milwaukee veteran of 6888th, better known as the Six-Triple-Eight, the only African American Women’s Army Corps mail battalion in WWII. Robertson was recognized for her distinguished service on her 98th birthday.

She was also a member of the "I Am Not Invisible" project, a travelling photo exhibit intended to elevate the contributions of women veterans and the importance of delivering the benefits and support they deserve.

“It is fitting that we are here again during Women’s History Month, celebrating a woman who truly made history," said Secretary Kolar. "Not only did you accomplish great things in the past, but you helped pave a better future."  

Secretary Kolar personally congratulated Anna Mae and presented her with a letter, flowers and certificate from WDVA recognizing her distinguished service and honoring her historic contributions toward creating a better future for all women veterans and especially women of color.

"You and I share something. We are two of the nearly 30,000 women veterans who call Wisconsin home. Your service helped make it possible for countless others to continue to demonstrate that patriotism, commitment, fortitude and pride of service is not limited to gender or the color of your skin," said Kolar. 

Also in attendance and giving key remarks were Milwaukee's Acting-Mayor Cavalier Johnson and US Congresswoman Gwen Moore.

Additionally, President Joe Biden recently bestowed the Congressional Gold Medal to all women veteran members of the Six-Triple-Eight. 

Appleton Header

You are invited to join WDVA for a suicide prevention and awareness forum, Combating Veteran Suicide, involving Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide prevention training and de-escalation training, as well as discussions on rural veteran needs and homelessness. It will be held on April 12, 2022, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., at Fox Valley Technical College, in the Bordini Conference Center, 5 N. Systems Drive, Appleton, WI. The forum is free to attend and registration is now open. Click here to register.

Women Veterans Retreat Registration Now Open

Women Veterans Retreat Registration Now Open!

Registration and all event information is now live at WisVetsWomen.com. All Wisconsin women veterans are invited and encouraged to attend this special weekend of fellowship and camaraderie on Saturday, June 4, 2022. WDVA is excited to partner once again with our friends at Trinity Equestrian Center in Eau Claire, WI. We hope you can join us! 
Seth Reynolds VORP

VORP Spotlight:

Seth Reynolds

Meet Seth Reynolds, Outreach Coordinator, for WDVA's Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program (VORP). Seth is new to WDVA and will cover Region 1, which includes the communities in the counties of Crawford, Vernon, Richland, Sauk, Iowa, Lafayette and Grant.

What is a goal you have as a VORP coordinator?

My goal is to see that everyone has the opportunity to be connected with the services available to them.  Helping people is personally rewarding to me. Our veterans are the most deserving individuals I have had the opportunity to assist. I view this as a way I can give back to veterans for their service. I take pride in helping the veterans in our communities here in Wisconsin.

Seth can be reached at:  608.306.0390  seth.reynolds1@dva.wisconsin.gov.

Colleen Flaherty photo 3.7.22

WDVA Welcomes New Communications Director 

WDVA is pleased to announce the appointment of Colleen Flaherty to the position of Communications Director. In this position, which oversees WDVA’s Office of Public Affairs, Colleen will bring her broad experience over the past 10 years working in the non-profit sector, and legislative and executive branches of Wisconsin government. She also has family who served in the military since WWII and cares deeply about issues that affect our nation’s veterans.

For the past two years she has been a communications specialist for the Department of Tourism while obtaining her master's degree in communications from UW Whitewater.

Colleen lives in Monona with her husband, David, and their daughter, Elaine, who is four. Please welcome her to our WDVA Team!

Colleen can be reached at: colleen.flaherty@dva.wisconsin.gov  

 

We are Hiring

WE ARE HIRING!

Find Your Career at WDVA 

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs has many available employment opportunities at all levels. We are looking for talented individuals to join our WDVA team near where you live! 

Additionally, our Wisconsin Veterans Homes at Chippewa Falls, King and Union Grove also have positions that range from direct care staff such as nurses to employees who provide supportive services such as administrative, housekeeping, maintenance, food service and groundskeepers.

Take a look at these and other opportunities for you to serve Wisconsin veterans. VIEW OPENINGS HERE!