WE Served Retreat Supports Women Veterans
Posted By PVA Admin on October 10, 2019
The WE Served Retreat was part of PVA’s wider initiative to address the specialized needs of this community, helping those who have served our country find the resources they need to live comfortable and productive lives.
Under the clear blue skies and crisp mountain air of Crested Butte, CO, more than 40 U.S. female veterans with a range of disabilities gathered for Paralyzed Veterans of America’s WE Served Retreat.
The setting was not only beautiful, it was informative and empowering. Attendees were treated to seminars on physical health, stress management, finances, and employment. They also got to network with each other and share experiences and motivation. More than half of the attendees are Paralyzed Veterans of America members.
If there was one message the female veterans could take away, it was “You are not alone.”
Currently, there are 2 million women veterans living in the U.S., and women are the fastest growing demographic in both the military and veteran population.
But women in the military often return to find a society ill-equipped to deal with their unique needs. When they have a disability, it’s even more difficult for them to find resources and support specific to their situation. Government agencies and society have been slow to update their programs and services to accommodate female veterans. Sometimes, it’s because their numbers are smaller and agencies don’t feel it’s “worth it” to adapt to women’s needs.
They are your mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, and grandmothers who served this country honorably and now need our attention back home – each of them is worth it.
The WE Served Retreat was part of PVA’s wider initiative to address the specialized needs of this community, helping those who have served our country find the resources they need to live comfortable and productive lives.
Former Texas Chapter President and U.S. Army veteran Anne Robinson attended the retreat and says, “It’s important for women veterans to know they don’t have to face things alone.”
WE Served was funded in part by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation and sponsored by First Nation Group and the Adaptive Sports Center of Crested Butte. Learn more about WE Served at pva.org/weserved.
