The Flagpole e-Newsletter

Pictured left to right: Panel Moderator: Donna Brock, Panelists: LTG Jody Daniels, SGM Julie Guerra, LTG Donna Martin, and CSM Veronica Knapp at the US Army Women's Foundation Panel, "Leading from the Front." (Photo: Army Women's Foundation)"

Those who attended the 2022 AUSA Annual meeting at the Washington Convention Center know what a great time we had last week in Washington, DC. The AUSA Annual Meeting is always a wonderful experience and an opportunity to see life-long friends and colleagues throughout the country, meet new people, learn more about our Army, and most importantly, learn more about the people in our Army.

This year the Army Women's Foundation was honored to partner with AUSA to bring together an exceptional group of Army leaders who graciously shared their experiences, opportunities, and stories through a panel discussion entitled "Leading from the Front."  Moderated by CSM (Ret) Donna Brock, the panel members included

LTG Donna W. Martin

SGM Julie A. M. Guerra

AUSA has created a new program called the Leader Solarium. The purpose of the Solarium is to provide thoughtful, bottom-up feedback to the CSA and the SMA on opportunities and challenges facing the Total Army. Approximately 120 specially selected leaders attended the program and had opportunities to speak to the CSA, SMA, and other Army leaders. Additionally, AUSA invited the Army Women's Foundation (AWF) to participate in the "Inspiration to Lead" portion of the program. AWF Advisory Board Member, Maj Gen (Ret) Donna Barbisch, who was 22 years old when assigned as an Army nurse at the 91st Evac Hospital in Chu Lai, Vietnam, shared her experiences with the junior leaders as they did PT on the National Mall and stopped at the Viet Nam Women's Memorial. The Leader Solarium is an innovative model that the AWF will continue to support.

The Military Women’s Memorial (MWM), celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the dedication of the memorial this past weekend. The celebration started with an all-services luncheon and evening reunion at the Marriott Marquis on 14 October, followed by a 25th Anniversary celebration at the Memorial and Candlelight Honor Walk across Memorial Bridge on 15 October, and culminated with a ceremony honoring 2022 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and MWM founding president Brig. Gen.(Ret) Wilma L. Vaught.

This week President Joe Biden signed into law a bill honoring World War II Veteran Indiana Hunt-Martin by designating Buffalo’s Central Park Post Office, located at 170 Manhattan Avenue, as the “Indiana Hunt-Martin Post Office Building.” The new namesake honors Women’s Army Corps (WAC) veteran Indiana Hunt-Martin who served in World War II as a member of the only African American WAC unit to serve overseas.

“My mother, Indiana Hunt-Martin, was a member of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion which consisted of more than 850 Black female soldiers who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to assist the Allied Front during World War II. She played an important role in boosting the morale among Americans by routing over 17 million pieces of mail destined for servicemembers in the European Theater of Operations and their loved ones in the United States,” said Janice M. Martin, Daughter of Indiana Hunt-Martin. 

Ms. Janice M. Martin in front of her mouther's, PFC Indiana Hunt-Martin, military keepsakes. (Photo: Marian Hetherly, Zoom)

Did you know that you can support US Army Women's Foundation while shopping on AmazonSmile? Make the US Army Women's Foundation your beneficiary:

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is Open! As a government employee or retiree, please consider making a donation to the US Army Women's Foundation through the Combined Federal Campaign. Our CFC # is 44384.