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Greetings! As we embrace the summer season and enjoy longer days, we also take time to recognize and celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, Caribbean American and Immigrant Heritage Month, Juneteenth, and National PTSD Awareness Month—honoring the diverse stories, contributions, and resilience that strengthen our communities.
June is National PTSD Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of mental health resources, reduce stigma around seeking help, and recognize the impact of PTSD on veterans, service members, and their loved ones. By fostering understanding and open conversations, we can build a more supportive community. Visit the VA’s National Center for PTSD to learn more.
Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising and celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community's ongoing pursuit of equality and acceptance. Recognizing the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ veterans, every VA facility has an LGBTQ+ Care Coordinator as well as Women Veteran Program Managers. Notable LGBTQ+ women veterans include Grethe Cammermeyer, an Army Nurse Corps colonel and Vietnam veteran who advocated for open military service after her 1992 discharge, and Gina Ortiz Jones, who became the first woman of color and first openly lesbian Under Secretary of the Air Force in 2021. Happy Pride Month to all!
Caribbean American Heritage Month celebrates the rich history, vibrant culture, and lasting contributions of Caribbean Americans to the United States while Immigrant Heritage Month celebrates the stories, cultures, and contributions of immigrants who have helped shape the United States. Notable Caribbean American trailblazers include Brigadier General Lorna Mahlock, a Jamaica native and the first Black woman promoted to two-star general in the U.S. Marine Corps, and Lieutenant Colonel Olga Custodio, who was raised in Puerto Rico and became the first Hispanic female pilot in the U.S. Air Force.
Juneteenth is a holiday observed on June 19th that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. It celebrates freedom, honors African American history and culture, and encourages reflection on the nation's ongoing journey toward equality and justice.
As we recognize these important observances throughout June, let us honor the diverse voices, experiences, and contributions that strengthen our communities. Together, we can foster understanding, inclusion, and support while reflecting on the stories that inspire positive change.
In Solidarity,
Jessica Frost
WVN Director
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