VFW Post 1650 in Topeka, Kansas, paid tribute to four female members of the Kansas Air National Guard during its fifth annual Women in Military Service Recognition ceremony on October 7.
The event honored Sarah Vargas, Olivia Parmentier, Tori Wilson, and Rachael Parris, providing them a platform to discuss their military careers, deployment experiences, and the unique challenges and successes of being women in the military.
Angie Gray, a member of VFW Post 1650 and the event coordinator, emphasized the significance of recognizing women in the military and their contributions to the nation. Gray, a veteran herself who deployed to Iraq in 2007, annually organizes the project by reaching out to women veterans willing to share their military experiences through social media, word-of-mouth, and the Kansas National Guard Public Affairs office.
The Women in Military Service Recognition ceremonies, initiated by the Post to promote diversity and foster camaraderie among veterans from different generations, offer a valuable opportunity for older members to give back to the younger generation. Gray highlighted that older veterans actively participate in setting up for the event and play various roles during the ceremony.
These events not only serve as a means of recognizing and thanking service members but also act as a platform to introduce VFW Post 1650 to the wider community. Gray believes that events like the Women in Military Service Recognition Ceremony are effective in attracting new veterans and showcasing the diverse activities and opportunities the VFW has to offer.
Gray stated, “It helps us showcase all the activities and events we have to offer veterans, as well as letting the local community know the VFW is open to the public. The goal is to bring in new veterans, young and old, male and female. It is our way of letting the next generation of veterans know that we are not your grandpa’s VFW and that we have modernized our ways.”
This coverage is featured in the March 2024 issue of VFW magazine and was penned by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., a senior writer for VFW magazine.
