Kentucky Department of Veteran's Affairs

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Women Veterans Program

Too many times this segment of our veteran population is overlooked because of the stereotype that suggests all veterans are men. The Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs has made it a priority to change that paradigm in the Commonwealth. This page is devoted to that purpose ... because women proudly served!

"Let the generations know that women in uniform also guaranteed their freedom. That our resolve was just as great as the brave men who stood among us. And with victory our hearts were just as full and beat just as fast - that the tears fell just as hard - For those we left behind."
-----Army Nurse WWII

From the founding of our nation, women have protected America's freedom and continue to do so in ever-increasing numbers. Women veterans remain historically under-represented in using available benefits and may be more reluctant than their male counterparts to embrace their status as veterans.

KDVA has established the Kentucky Women Veterans Program to address these issues.

Please click here to email if you have questions or concerns or if you wish to participate in our efforts to assist and recognize Kentucky's Women Veterans.

Click here to view a presentation about Women Veterans in Kentucky and the services available to them.

African-Americans in the U.S. Military

Major General Marcia Anderson is the first black female major general in the U.S. Army. Read her story here.

Watch a video about the 6888 Battalion of African-American women posted to Birmingham, England during World War II.

Learn more about the history of African Americans in the U.S. Army here.

Watch a video about the first African American female pilot here. Willa Beatrice Brown was the first African American woman in the U.S. to be a licensed pilot. Her efforts were responsible for Congress' forming the renowned Tuskegee Airmen squadron, leading to the integration of the U.S. military service in 1948.

Women Veterans Meet and Greet

Please join Women Veterans from across Kentucky in a Meet and Greet Women Veterans event on Saturday, March 17 2012. It will be held in Louisville from noon to 4 p.m. at the Wayside Hotel Louisville, 120 West Broadway.

The Meet and Greet will be an opportunity for all women veterans to find out about the organizations that support women veterans and to meet the people involved in that support. In addition, women veterans will learn at first hand the resources available to them and their families. Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to meet other women veterans, and join and expand support networks.

If you are interested in promoting your services and resources to women veterans, this event is a great place to start. There is no charge for participation, but space is limited. Table space is free and free parking is easily accessible at Wayside Hotel Louisville. Refreshments will be served. Please call or email Kentucky's Women Veterans Coordinator Robin Jones at 502-595-4447, robins.jones@ky.gov if you have any questions. Please RSVP about participating no later than March 1, 2012.

New Video from VA About Women Veterans

“The Department of Veterans Affairs is taking its internal culture-change message to the public with a new video about the vital role women play in the military and the importance of providing women Veterans with high quality health care.

VA’s Women Veterans Health Strategic Health Care Group recently completed a 60-second public service announcement (PSA) that challenges viewers to rethink pre-conceived notions about women Veterans. This dynamic video features images of women in service to our country: they drive supply trucks, participate in reconnaissance missions, walk safety patrols, and operate helicopter machine guns.

“When these brave women complete their service and become Veterans, we want them to know that VA is there to meet their health care needs,” said Dr. Patricia Hayes, Chief Consultant of the VA’s Women Veterans Health Strategic Health Care Group. “At the same time, we want the public to recognize the contributions of women Veterans and the benefits they have earned through their service to the Nation.”

Click here to view video. External Link - You are now leaving the .gov domain

Kentucky Women Veterans Database

The Women Veterans Coordinator maintains a database of women veterans in Kentucky, and a list of email addresses for women veterans. These databases include only those women veterans who have volunteered their information to KDVA. This information in these databases is strictly confidential.

Both databases are used to distribute information of interest to women veterans, including resources and coming events.

Our goal is to create a strong network of women veterans in Kentucky, for which we need to reach at least 75 percent of the women veterans in the state.

If you are a woman with military service, or know a woman with military service, please email the information below to KDVA and become part of the growing network of Kentucky Women Veterans:

Name, Address, City, Zip Code, Phone Number, Email, Branch of Service, Dates of Service and Rank/Grade.

Jane Beshear Attends Women Veterans
Open House at VAMC Louisville

Mrs. Beshear talks with Air Force members

About 100 women veterans and active-duty members met with the First Lady Saturday, received information about health and benefits, and networked with other military women.

Watch news coverage here.

Mission and Goals

The mission of the Kentucky Women Veterans Program shall be to ensure that Kentucky's women veterans have equitable access to federal and state veterans' services and benefits.The goals are to:

Perform outreach to improve women veterans' awareness of eligibility for federal and state veterans' services and benefits;
Assess the needs of women veterans with respect to improve the Women Veterans Program;
Make recommendations to the Commissioner to improve benefits and services;
Review programs, research projects, and other initiatives designed to address or meet the needs of Kentucky's women veterans;
Incorporate women veterans' issues in the Department's strategic planning;and
Participate in National forums and committees for women veterans.

The program shall provide assistance to women who served in the United States Armed Forces or in forces incorporated as part of the United States Armed Forces, and who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

Benefits

How can you apply for VA benefits and services?

Click here to find the Veterans Benefits Field Representative in your area or call the KDVA Field Operations Branch at 502-595-4447 or
1-800-928-4012 (Kentucky).

Please click here to email us if you have questions, concerns or if you wish to participate in our efforts to assist and recognize Kentucky's Women Veterans.

Honoring Military Women

First Lady's Reception for Military Women

First Lady Jane Beshear poses with women veterans and military women Jane Beshear honored Kentucky's women veterans and women in military service March 5 with a reception at the governor's mansion. Women representing every branch of service and every war period from World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan, and women in the National Guard and Reserves, had the opportunity to meet with the First Lady and hear her message of appreciation.

Kentucky Adjutant General Edward Tonini, KDVA Commissioner Ken Lucas and Deputy Commissioner Margaret Plattner, veterans all, also spoke.

Governor and First Lady Beshear pose with World War II Marine veteran Kathleen Drummond

Everyone appreciated the surprise appearance of Governor Steve Beshear, who added his thanks and appreciation of Kentucky's Women in Military Service. At right, he posed with the First Lady and World War II Marine veteran Kathleen Drummond.