Veterans appreciation: Saturday begins weeklong recognition of Jacksonville's women who served

Dan Scanlan, Florida Times-Union
·4 min read
Staff from Northeast Florida Women Veterans Inc. speak with a military veteran at a 2019 mental health summit at Jacksonville's VA clinic, services that will also be highlighted at Tuesday's summit at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena as part of Women Veterans Recognition Week.
Staff from Northeast Florida Women Veterans Inc. speak with a military veteran at a 2019 mental health summit at Jacksonville's VA clinic, services that will also be highlighted at Tuesday's summit at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena as part of Women Veterans Recognition Week.

They fought in wars and served in peacetimes dating back two centuries.

Now the city of Jacksonville honors them with the Women Veterans Recognition Week that begins Saturday.

The observance was started in 2013 by the CEO of Northeast Florida Women Veterans, Dee Quaranta. She wanted to celebrate the accomplishments of women in the military, especially those who blazed the way of service during the World War II and Korean War eras.

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The city’s Military Affairs and Veterans Department joins the veterans group with events running through June 11 that bring community awareness to some of the challenges women face after military service.

"It's important because for so long women veterans have been what we call 'the invisible veteran,'" said Quaranta, a 20-year U.S. Air Force veteran. "The week of recognition was created to help the community to become aware not only of the accomplishments of women veterans but also some of the challenges they face in transition coming out of the military. This is a pretty big deal."

Many women veterans live here

Jacksonville is home to the second largest population of women veterans in the country, and the largest in Florida, according to the city and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs data. Of the 91,000-plus military veterans living in Jacksonville, about 13,300 are women, according to 2018 VA data.

Mayor Lenny Curry said women have played an integral part in protecting the country with "immeasurable contributions” alongside their male counterparts.

“I encourage all citizens to recognize the courage, honor and dignity with which women have served and continue to serve in Jacksonville," Curry said.

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All veterans face many shared challenges, Quaranta said. That includes the "culture shock" of adapting to civilian life and work as well as more serious issues,

"It's a totally different culture," she said. "... Not only that, but there are some of the mental health issues that exist that can really cause some serious problems in transition. So we acknowledge that, especially military sexual trauma, which is a big one."

U.S. Army veteran Ruth Young, whose duty included the Vietnam War, salutes next to the uniform she would have worn on display at the Northeast Florida Women Veterans office in Jacksonville. This is one of the uniforms on display at City Hall next week.
U.S. Army veteran Ruth Young, whose duty included the Vietnam War, salutes next to the uniform she would have worn on display at the Northeast Florida Women Veterans office in Jacksonville. This is one of the uniforms on display at City Hall next week.

Statewide conference leads off the week

Ceremonies and activities throughout the next week will include a display of uniforms from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in the City Hall atrium at 117 W. Duval St. For the first time, Jacksonville will host Saturday's statewide women veterans conference at the Southbank Hotel at Jacksonville Riverwalk at 1515 Prudential Drive, in partnership with the Florida Department of Veteran Affairs, including health and benefits information.

"We have had a women's veterans conference, but it was small scale and in different cities," Quaranta said. "This is the very first time that the state has hosted an event that is all day because women are coming in from Pensacola, Miami, Tampa and different places."

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The week ends with a June 11 gala to honor those who paved the way for female veterans’ issues and to recognize women who served and who are working tirelessly in their communities.

For information on all of the week's events, go to forwomenvets.org.

dscanlan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4549

Women Veterans Recognition Week events

• 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday: State of Florida Women Veterans Conference at the Southbank Hotel at Jacksonville Riverwalk, 1515 Prudential Drive. Information and tickets: bit.ly/3a8z3Ib

• 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday: Paint 'N Sip 'N Fun at Tabula Rasa Brewery at 2385 Corbett St.

• 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday: Women of the Wall Ceremony at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Wall at 1145 E. Adams St.

• 10 to 11 a.m. Monday: Women Veterans Recognition Week Opening Ceremony/Proclamation at City Hall at St. James, 117 W. Duval St.

• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday: Florida Health and Benefits Resource Fair at The Salem Center, 7235 Bonneval Road.

• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday: Mental Health Summit at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 300 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.

• 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday: Women, Wealth and Wine at the Breezy Jazz House, 1402 San Marco Blvd.

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday: “Let’s Talk Balance of Work and You” Lunch and Learn at The River Club, 1 Independent Drive. Suite 350.

6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 11: Women Veterans Recognition Gala at the Southbank Hotel at Jacksonville Riverwalk, 1515 Prudential Drive. Information: floridavets.org/event/women-veterans-recognition-gala

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville women veterans week features statewide Florida conference