Welcome to the Women Veterans Website. I am a disabled woman veteran. If it weren't for my disability, I never would've known that the Veterans Administration and it's hospitals were somewhere to go to for any reason. I, like so many other women, didn't know how to get into the system, what options were available to me as a veteran. I was lost. Thanks to the help of many other veterans, I was able to meet the right people in order to help me to work around my disability. This is not an "Oh woe is me" site. This page is being designed to help other female veterans to become aware of the services that are available to them.
I am Veronica Reilly, USMC Retired. I belong to the American Legion in the state of NY because I want to make a difference for me and those after me to keep our benefits alive. I am trying to make a difference in the treatment that women vets receive when visiting the hospital for out and in patient appointments.
Women are encouraged to seek treatment at VA facilities; but not many do. Treatment of women veterans at various facilities throughout the country are not "women" friendly. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've been called Mr. Reilly; but improvements are forthcoming. They are learning that we women know what our benefits are and that we are going to use them. Get involved with your women's coordinator and see if your VA has a Women Veteran's Committee. Give the Coordinator your suggestions for improvements. They can't hurt.
Mid-Hudson VAMC offers the following services to their lady veterans:
Women's Health Clinic once a month
Access to Mamography
Video tapes in their library for sexual trama
Assistance in seeking further help, such as group and individual therapy.
Private rooms for women vets who stay.
Sexual Trama Counseling - One on one or group sessions. Assistance in filing a VA claim.
Dedicated on October 18, 1997, the Women In Military Service for America (WIMSA), is the long awaited and well deserved "thank you" to our Lady Veterans. With an emotion stirring song, sung by Kenny Rogers & Patty Austin, "I'll Always Remember You", has become a favorite among women veterans and their families. Many thanks go out to all the women veterans who made this dream a reality. Special thanks goes out the General Vaught for not giving up once the idea was born. She's a remarkable woman and a fine example of what every woman veteran should be.
The Women's Memorial is for all women veterans, all branches of service and has no "inclusive" dates. Every woman veteran from the Revolutionary War to the present day can register. If you know a woman veteran whom you would like to add to the database, please, get in touch with the project in Washington DC. I will post the address for inquiries. You can also email me and I can send you a copy of the application for inclusion. It's a wonderful way to help preserve the memories that our women have. All women who registered before October 31, 1997 are "Charter Members". Registration is still open and donations are always welcome. Remember, just because dedications has come and gone does not mean contributions are at a halt. They still need money to continue to preserve the Memorial. We all make a difference.
The Women's Memorial can be contacted by writing to:
New York State recently unveiled a "horrible" tribute to the NYS women veterans. What has been described as a "Woman breaking free" looks more like a "woman wrapped in a sheet", has been chosen to represent the Women Veterans in NY at the Women's War Memorial scheduled to be built in Albany. Women Veterans from across the state are up in arms over this "symbol" of what the artist says represents women veterans. After meeting with the committee in charge of the memorial, the women vets found themselves chastised by the Artist--a well known Albany area Politcal Cartoonist. They found the committee had brought them into Albany to yell at them, punish them for protesting and tell them that it WOULD go up, despite protest. Our women veterans want the statue removed. If you're a woman vet in NY, write to Governor Pataki and let him know we're not trollops and we want the statue removed.
Now available for sale is our long awaited book -- "Volunteers All - Military Women of New York". Read the stories of the women who volunteered to serve their country from the NY area. We're preserving our history for our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc. so that OUR stories will live on. Read about such women as:
Dr. Mary Walker, the 1st wm awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor (yes, she's from NY).
Madeline Nolan - 1st Native American Wm to join the WAC's.
Major Michele Barlean - 1st Wm Aviator Commander of a Helicopter Unit during Desert Storm.
LtCol. Eileen Collins - 1st Wm to pilot a spacecraft and as announced on March 5, 1998, will be the first wm to COMMAND a space mission.
SPC Patricia Semmens - killed while serving during Desert Storm.
These are our future's role models. Let's get these books out there for our future generation of young women to look up to and give them the positive role models they so deserve. Who better to look up to than these leaders in the women's movement? If you would like to purchase this book for your collection, local library or school, please drop me an e-mail for more information. If you are a woman from NY or who lives in NY now, and served in the military, you can get into volume 2 of this book, due out in 2000. Drop me an e-mail and I'll get the bio page for you to fill out and send to me. Tell your story! We all want to hear it! This is our chance to tell our story.
Women's History Month is in MARCH. It's a time to celebrate the history of the women who helped to shape the world today. Plan to arrange a booth's or tables at the Malls and shopping centers in your area to heighten the awareness of women's vital roles in the Military while serving our country. Remember the women who worked in hospitals and factories during the wars to let our men fight overseas. No job was too small for our ladies to fill. Even the ladies who gave up their precious silk stockings played an important role. Times were tough; but so were the women. For more information on women in military history, I suggest you stop by Capt. Critical's website. Capt Barbara Wilson has a fabulous site depicting women in military history that will knock your socks off. I also suggest you visit the National Women's History Project for more women's history which includes more history about all women in history.
If you are interested in learning how to address any problems with the VA, I will do what I can to help point you in the right direction. Please feel free to e-mail me at: bwidow@geocities.com Sign my guest book; but for a faster response to problems, it is best to e-mail me.
Please visit these health related sites for more information on Endometriosis or Fibryomyalgia. These two diseases are very painful and can limit your life. Early detection can help you in the long run.
***************UPDATE*********************
I'll also have you know that because of this situation as it stands, the doctor I have seen for 4 years has declared that he can no longer assist me medically and that in his opinion, I should "get a life and get a job". What really makes no sense is that it has been proven by the VA doctors, Social Securities doctors and judges and the Yale Pain Management Clinic's doctors that I am unemployable. Go figure. This statement arrived shortly after my complaint was answered by the VAMC director, Mr. Sabo. Don't let anyone tell you that if you make waves you won't be punished for it, because you will. No wonder the other women vets that have a problem with this doctor's lack of ethics won't come forward. Something is rotten at Castle Point/Montrose VAMC.
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