Women veterans honored at annual celebration in Jackson

JACKSON, Tenn. — It’s a day set aside to honor women who have given their service to our country. Women’s Veterans Day is observed on June 12, but one local group in Jackson took Sunday to recognize fifty women from all branches of service from past to present.

“It’s our 3rd annual event, and as the chapter regent, I participate by handing the certificates and congratulating our women veterans,” said Jan Bynum with the Jackson-Madison Chapter DAR.

They pay homage to individuals like the keynote speaker of this occasion, Master Sergeant Gloria Holiday, who served for twenty-one years.

“Women veterans, women that served for the Revolutionary War all the way up to this war we’re in now,” Holiday said. “From the 80’s, and the 70’s, and the 90’s. We have served in self to the Korean War, to the Gulf War, to Iraq… Everywhere women have played a big, big part.”

Sergeant Holiday says it’s bigger than just serving for the sake of it. It has to be in you to do your best work. You have to really love what you do and always have a end goal be better everyday.

“Without courage we can’t be like that lion on “The Wizard of Oz” looking for courage,” said Holiday. “You’ve got to have courage to be able to stand flat footed and recognize and be able to serve the country that you are so proud of. First of all ,you’ve got to be proud of who you are. That makes a big difference.”

As long as we’re making a difference, we’ll change the world one day at a time.

It’s important that our veterans are remembered and never forgotten.

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