The Women Veterans of America, Chapter #20 at Fort Donelson National Cemetery on Memorial Day in 2008

The Women Veterans of America, Chapter #20, and the Women Veterans Network of the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, are honored to host the 2009 Fort Donelson National Battlefield and National Cemetery’s Memorial Day Ceremony.

On behalf of the National Park Service and Fort Donelson, all citizens are cordially invited to attend the ceremony, which will be held on Monday, May 25^th at 1:00 pm.

The ceremony will be held in the National Cemetery, near the flag pole and the Administration Building. The ceremony is free and open to the public. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be relocated to the First Baptist Church Family Life Center, which is adjacent to the Cemetery at 208 Church Street.

Please join us as we honor all veterans that have given their last full measure of devotion for this great nation.

The keynote speaker will be First Sergeant Carleen D. “Chick” Robertson, U.S. Air Force (Retired), of Paris, Tennessee. She served in the active duty Air Force from 1950 to 1975, and is very active in numerous Veterans Service Organizations.

For more information about the Memorial Day Ceremony, or about the Women Veterans of America, please contact WVA Vice-Commander Stacey Hopwood at 931-553-5173 or via email at .

Major General (Dr.) Irene Trowell-Harris will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Women Veterans of America National Convention in Nashville, September 12-14th. She is the Director of the Center for Women Veterans, Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Trowell-Harris will address the convention on Saturday, September 13. Nashville-Clarksville Chapter 20 will host this year’s convention.

General Trowell-Harris is a registered nurse with a diploma in nursing from Columbia Hospital, School of Nursing, a masters degree from Yale University, a doctorate from Columbia University and Flight Nurse Wings from the Aerospace School of Medicine.

In 1963, this South Carolina youth took an uncharted flight from the cotton fields of South Carolina to the pinnacle of success as a nurse, educator, military officer, mentor and role model. Her flight made unscheduled stops, ran into turbulence, reached unexpected heights and traveled internationally.

General Trowell-Harris was the first woman and female in National Guard History (in 349 years) to command a clinic; and the first African American woman in National Guard history (in 357 years) to become a general officer; the first person in National Guard history to have a Tuskegee Airmen Chapter (1998) and a Mentoring Award (1999) named in her honor.

She has numerous civilian and military awards including the Legion of Merit. She is a distinguished alumni of Columbia University; awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the Medical University of South Carolina (1997), has received South Carolina’s highest award, the Order of Palmetto and was recognized by the South Carolina Board of Education, WIS TV and Southern Bell Calendar program as an outstanding citizen and role model (1994) for young people. Dr. Trowell-Harris mad history again on October 8, 1999 when she was inducted (charter inductee) into the Teachers College, Columbia University Nursing Hall of Fame. She was selected based on the fact that she is a distinguished nursing leader and have and outstanding contribution to the advancement to the profession.

Major General Trowell-Harris is the highest ranking (2 star general) African American woman in the National Guard and is assigned as the National Guard Assistant to the Director, for Human Resources Readiness, and the Chairperson for the Human Resources Quality Board. Her duties focus on readiness, diversity, and mentoring. She is advisor to the Air National Guard (ANG) Committee of Advisors (the executive leadership body of the ANG). In her civilian life she is Director, Northeast Region, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC.

As the highest ranking woman in the Air National Guard, Gen Trowell-Harris’ greatest treasure in life is mentoring and helping others reach their potential and goals.

All women veterans, irrespective of membership status are encouraged to attend this convention. Active military women servicemembers and their spouses, family members are also invited to attend.

A Convention Registration Form, in downloadable format, is available at the group’s website: <http://wvachapter20.tripod.com/convention.html>. For more information, please contact MaryAnn Woodward-Smith, Womens Veterans Program Manager, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, at 1-800-228-4973, ext. 5130 or Stacey Hopswood, Women Veterans Network member at 931-553-5173.

America’s women veterans and active-duty military servicewomen of all stripes are invited to attend the upcoming Women Veterans of America (WVA) National Convention in Nashville on September 12-14. The convention site is the Radisson Hotel, Opryland. The guest speaker for the convention is Dr. Irene Trowell-Harris (at right), Director of the Center for Women Veterans, Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Trowell-Harris will address the convention on Saturday, September 13.

The Center oversees all VA programs for women veterans. As Director, Dr. Trowell-Harris is the primary advisor to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on all matters related to policies, legislation, programs, issues, and initiatives affecting women veterans. This is an incredible, once in a lifetime opportunity for women veterans to hear directly from Dr. Trowell-Harris on the current state of women veterans programs within the VA on a national level.

Even though the convention is for WVA members, because of the uniqueness of Dr. Trowell-Harris’s appearance here, WVA is opening the morning session to all women, veterans and active-duty, regardless of WVA membership. If you wish to attend Dr. Trowell-Harris’s presentation, there is no charge. However, you must pre-register prior to August 13th, as seating is limited. Full convention details, including costs, are available at the chapter’s website.

Convention Registration Form, in downloadable format, is available at the group’s website: <http://wvachapter20.tripod.com/convention.html>.

For more information, please contact MaryAnn Woodward-Smith, Womens Veterans Program Manager, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, at 1-800-228-4973, ext. 5130 or Stacey Hopswood, Women Veterans Network member at 931-553-5173.

“We’ll be back next year,” they promised.

It was to have the first time a women’s group hosted the event, in this case reflecting the combined efforts of the Women Veteran’s of America Chapter 20, the Women Veterans Network and VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. The women veterans reflect every branch of the armed forces except the Coast Guard.

As local boy scouts and veterans from other groups huddled in the shelter of a porch, a laurel wreath and a neatly folded flag lay unruffled on a porch swing out of the rain.

First Sergeant Carleen D. Robertson, USAF retired, of Paris, Tennessee, was scheduled to give the keynote address. Sgt. Robertson served 18 years as an Air Force recruiter and holds service awards including the Meritorious Service Medals with two Oak Leaf Clusters. She served during both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, from 1950 to her retirement in 1975. She has been stationed in Japan, England, Alaska, Germany and Hawaii.

Although the stage was set for a moving memorial service honoring all veterans, the rains came and park officials nixed the ceremony as thunder rumbled and lightning flashed overhead. The umbrellas popped open, but rain failed to dampen their spirits as they gathered to pose for a ceremonial picture. They also vowed to return, same time next year.

Photos by Bill Larson