SOLOMON — Two area American Legion posts are making sure that veterans are remembered this June.
On Thursday, June 12, American Legion Lopez-Hernandez Post 95 in Solomon hosted its second annual Women’s Veterans Day celebration, conducted by the American Legion Auxiliary.
The Solomon event was one of just two celebrated in Arizona that day, despite President Truman signing the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act in 1948.
“It is recognized in 14 states. Unfortunately, we are not one,” said Rosanna Ruiz, president of the Post 95 Auxiliary.
The full house heard keynote speaker Lorenza Wysong speak about her experiences. She enlisted during the Vietnam War to help pay for college, and retired as a Warrant Officer-3 from the U.S. Army after 22 years of service.
“We all have stories to share,” Wysong told the female veterans in attendance.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Also speaking was Valerie Williams, a veteran who helped Graham and Greenlee vets obtain benefits through the VA before her retirement for health reasons, and Nisha Dawn Spitzer, who told her story of being rescued in 1974’s Operation Babylift, which relocated Vietnamese orphans to the United States during the war.
Spitzer also talked about one of the greatest losses of female lives in the country’s military history as part of that humanitarian effort, when one of the Operation Babylift planes crashed, killing 78 children and 35 Defense Intelligence Agency women.
Veterans will be able to get help with their benefits, when Gila Valley Veterans Services hosts the Safford Veterans Engagement and Town Hall.
The event will take place Friday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at American Legion Swift-Murphy Post 32.
Both VA and local providers will be on hand to provide information on services and benefits available to all veterans, members of the National Guard and reservists and their families.
