AVOWMagazineWinter2019 : simplebooklet.com

AVOWMagazine com Christina Wilkinson USAF PUBLISHER Sheila L Holmes USAF EDITOR IN CHIEF A magazine for women veterans by women veterans and for the people who love them Erin Trower USAF EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Melissa Washington USN Genevieve Chase USA VR Small USN Danielle Johnson USMC Pat White USMC SPECIAL ADVISORS Copyright 2019 by AVOW Magazine All rights reserved The name AVOW and the AVOW logo are trademarks of AVOW Magazine exclusively for the American Veterans Organization of Women Magazine which is published quarterly for women veterans of the United States of America Contributors Liz Williams USA Samantha A Noblitt USAF Shoshianna Moore USA Diane Marburger USAF Barbara Barnett USA Sevrine Banks USA Ciaran O Malley Photography AG Photoworks Monica McLean Photography Sheila L Holmes Erin Trower Katie Treadway Shoshianna Moore Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas Andre Furtado Solyanaya Rakicevic Nenad Ashton Bingham Andy Feliciotti Brandyn Wilkinson No part of this publication may be reproduced distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means including photocopying recording or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher or in some instances with third party copyright holders For permission requests write to the publisher addressed Attention Permissions Coordinator at the address below CREATIVE TEAM SabreDesign com ART DIRECTION DESIGN LAYOUT Sabre Design Publishing 18737 Back Street 605 Groveland CA 95321 www sabredesign com Proudly published and produced in the United States of America Social Media Facebook com AVOWMagazine Instagram com avow_magazine Twitter com AVOWMagazine O 209 962 0613 Sabre Design F 800 680 6217 E contact AVOWMagazine com 6 Winter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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AMERICAN VETERAN ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN MAGAZINE We are still discovering creative ways to be there for each and every one of our readers Whether obtaining assistance with the VA featuring others who have experienced the same heartaches as you offering baking advice from a sister veteran or assisting you in finding the right kind of fashion for your interview event or going out attire we want you to feel like you re at home each time you read an issue of AVOW Magazine This is YOUR magazine Women veterans are comprised of doctors nurses nonprofit leaders teachers models designers lawyers architects pilots writers small business owners chefs athletes and so much more Every one of us is truly talented aren t we As you read the articles in this issue we hope the stories we re bringing to you not only resonate and move you but encourage you to take the next step in your life by going to school opening that new business or working with other veterans Our team works very hard to bring you information that may help get you past a road block as well as highlighting successes of women veterans in and out of the military We aren t afraid to bring you the true stories of trauma and sorrow or where sexual assault may have played a big role in someone s military career For those who didn t experience as traumatic events while serving there are many other articles and stories that may appeal to you All of this is what makes our publication unique We at AVOW Magazine hope that the coming year finds all of you living the life of your dreams while fighting your personal battles with success We see your struggles and we know what you are made of but most importantly we are here for you I would like to personally take a moment to thank our team for their contributions and hard work in producing this magazine It really is a labor of love If this is the first issue of AVOW Magazine you are reading it is our sincere hope that you are inspired and enjoy it enough to go back and read the first two issues 2020 is the year of VISION so grab that vision and run with it Happy New Year Christina Wilkinson AVOW Magazine Publisher Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 7

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT The owner Diane Marburger served in the Air Force from 1984 1988 She was an Administrative Specialist who worked in numerous offices within the Communications Squadron at George AFB Her final assignment was as Secretary to the Commander Following her military career Diane accepted a position at a CPA firm but had the opportunity of transitioning into a role as a stay at home mom Diane s love of baking began 25 years ago when she attended the Wilton cake decorating courses to bake for her family and friends In 2011 she attended the Culinary School of Fort Worth while taking classes at Le Cordon Bleu Since that time she has taken her skills from cake decorating and applied them to her newest passion for cookies Her new found hobby of cookie decorating is where she found her creative outlet Encouragement and enthusiasm over her cookies from family and friends was just what she needed to make the transition from hobby to business So in August she did a pilot program and was pleasantly surprised with the interest Diane s 5 year old son says she is the great awesomest cookie maker Email NTXCookieCo yahoo com NTX Cookie Co NTX COOKIE CO IS A VETERAN OWNED HOME BAKERY OPERATING UNDER THE TEXAS COTTAGE FOOD LAW 8 Winter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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MEET THE TEAM OF AVOW MAGAZINE PAT WHITE was born and raised in Philadelphia She joined the military to obtain the GI Bill to help pay for college On Nov 25 1992 she enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve and was 29 when she left for boot camp DANIELLE JOHNSON is a retired warden serving 30 years with the New York City Department of Corrections She holds a bachelor s degree in forensic psychology and a masters degree in criminal justice Upon graduation from boot camp at Parris Island she attended school at Camp Johnson North Carolina before returning home In between working full time and putting herself through college she completed USMC Reserve drill weekends Before her appointment to the Department she worked with a nonprofit community organization assisting clients with job training career placement and educational enrollment Pat graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Science in Education For the next 20 years she was a special education teacher with the School District of Philadelphia while serving her country in the United States Marine Corps Reserve She met her husband while working for Toys for Tots and married in Jacksonville North Carolina where they were both stationed Pat was activated for one year and stationed at Willow Grove Naval Air Station Pennsylvania and left the Marines in February 2009 to spend more time with their son In October 2010 Pat enlisted in the Air Force Reserves and worked at Dover Air Force Base Delaware She retired from the military on Nov 1 2014 after serving her country for over 20 years and retired from the School District of Philadelphia January 2018 Johnson enlisted in the U S Marine Corps Reserves in March of 1987 and was activated in 1990 to participate in Desert Storm Desert Shield for which she received the Combat Action Ribbon Currently Johnson is the founder of her own music social media company deejayandcatsproduction and a musician mix engineer music producer digital media content creator for end user audience in specific contexts and co writer of her first scripted drama series known as Jillianspeak ERIN TROWER is a U S Air Force veteran who served as a public affairs specialist photojournalist and broadcaster for six years Erin specializes in telling stories around the globe through visual content with both her photography and video storytelling capabilities She received second place during the Dept of Defense Storytelling Workshop her first year in the USAF and has received numerous awards for her photography and journalism Erin earned her associate degree in mass communications and graduated with her Bachelor of Science in social science in Fall 2019 She has a fascination with all things sociology She plans to pursue her master s degree in sociology in the near future She is married to her husband Thomas an Air Force master sergeant Together they have a 22 month old daughter and their second daughter will make her appearance in late March 2020 In addition she volunteers at the James J Peters VA Medical Center donating her time to assist fellow veterans with housing issues clothing escort services and much more In March 2019 Pat White became a 1 Best Selling Author when her book Molly the Marine was published She is also a songwriter living in Philadelphia with her husband and son They love to travel the world together Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 9

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MEET THE TEAM OF AVOW MAGAZINE GENEVIEVE CHASE is founder and executive director of American Women Veterans and a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom VII After enlisting in the U S Army Reserve in 2003 Chase volunteered to serve with the Army s 10th Mountain Division Light Infantry While deployed to Afghanistan as a Sergeant in 2006 her vehicle was attacked by a suicide vehicle borne improvised explosive device The passengers survived the attack but suffered varying degrees of traumatic brain injury TBI and post traumatic stress PTS To counter symptoms of TBI and PTS Chase dedicated herself to veterans advocacy Since returning from active duty service she has worked tirelessly to bring to light the issues faced by today s veterans While advocating on their behalf she discovered a need for a focus on women veterans and their families from all eras and branches of service From that void Chase created American Women Veterans and began in earnest the 21stcentury women veterans movement Chase is a recipient of the Bronze Star Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge She has testified before the U S Senate Foreign Relations Committee about her experiences in Afghanistan as well as the U S Senate Veterans Affairs Committee concerning women s health care For her outstanding work both in and out of uniform Chase was inducted into the Army Women s Hall of Fame in 2016 Following her last deployment to Afghanistan in 2013 Chase moved to a beautiful and remote mountain town in Idaho with her two dogs Diesel and Rumi where she has been writing a memoir for five years 10 VR SMALL is founder and executive director of the Veteran Women s Enterprise Center in Dallas Texas Her former positions include President and Chief Executive Officer Small Industries Organizational Success Strategies SIOSS Founder and Executive Director for the Brooklyn Executive Business Women s Association BEBWA Director of the Center for Healthy Living at Long Island University and more than ten years as an adjunct professor specializing in psychology and organizational development VR s expertise in building strategic alliances and providing innovative technical assistance spans nearly 20 years illustrating a vibrant history of success helping individuals nonprofits businesses and associations access the resources they need to succeed As a dynamic advocate for women veterans VR testified in support of the original House Bill to make June 12 Women Veterans Day in Texas She also chaired the 2018 Dallas Planning Committee coordinating events around the city in recognition of the first official Women Veterans Day for Texas VR serves on the 30th Congressional District Veteran Advisory Committee Representative Neave s Sexual Violence Task Force and support the efforts of various local veteran coalitions and service organizations She chaired the Veteran Business Subcommittee for the City of Dallas Office of Business Diversity and was the 2017 VP for Veteran Affairs with SCORE Dallas VR is a U S Navy Veteran proud stepdaughter and sister to U S Army Retired Vietnam and Iraq Veterans respectively MELISSA A WASHINGTON is the CEO and Founder of Women Veterans Alliance She is a disabled veteran small business owner speaker author and award winner who is connecting women veterans across the nation Melissa proudly served in the Navy and rather than shoulder the burden of a dual service family she decided to leave the military early to pursue a career while her husband spent 21 years active duty in the United State Marine Corps In 2011 she started Melissa Washington Inc offering consulting services to businesses and individuals using LinkedIn for researching recruiting job seeking and collaborating In 2014 she authored Get Back to Work Smart Savvy Real World Strategies to Make Your Next Career Move In 2015 she founded Women Veterans Alliance Women Veterans Giving Inc in 2018 She has been featured in Sacramento Business Journal as well as other magazines and newspapers Melissa is a go to person for media when it comes to women having been interviewed on TV stations such as ABC NBC CBS and Fox including a segment on the Dr Phil Show and Lifetime Channel s The Balancing Act Her radio appearances include Sirius XM KFBK AM1530 iHeart national podcasts AM1170 and more Melissa is the daughter of a Bronze Star Army Vietnam War Veteran Her husband of 25 years Jarrod is a retired Marine who served in combat in Desert Shield Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom OIF They are proud parents to Maya Winter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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MEET THE TEAM OF AVOW MAGAZINE SHEILA L HOLMES is a Business Systems Analyst with a penchant for languages photography storytelling and activism Originally from California she grew up across the Western U S settling in rural NM as a child She graduated high school mid term with advanced English French and Spanish turned 18 in USAF Basic Training and graduated Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center where she learned the Arabic language culture and geography in 1992 She cross trained into photography and transferred to Kirtland Air Force Base in Alb NM where she finished her enlistment as a Senior Airman Still Photographic Audiovisual Technician Sheila currently resides in the PA choosing visible participation in events such as MLK 50th Anniversary Philadelphia Black Lives Matter and was a bus captain out of Lehigh Valley for the Women s March on Washington She participates in NYC Pride with the Sirens Women s MC serves as Esteemed Lecturing Knight of Bangor Elks Lodge Lodge 1106 and currently is involved with Brown Lynch Post 9 American Legion Auxiliary Honor Vuard and the Dustrucr 6 Legion Riders She has helped raise over 40k for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation as a Task Force Lead with her husband for the Eastern Pa Ride for Kids Sheila is the Editor in Chief of AVOW Magazine and is committed to ensuring its success as a platform in profiling women veterans as an encouraging voice for our service sisters by promoting the concept of military community and civilian lifestyle and via amplifying their voices and experiences Sheila is recently married to Phillip Lipyanic and they both share the love of motorcycling She is the daughter of Stephen L Holmes who served in the Army during the Vietnam era Her paternal and maternal grandfathers served in the Coast Guard Marines and Navy respectively Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 CHRISTINA WILKINSON is a U S Air Force veteran who worked in the publications distribution office for most of her 10 year military career With over 31 years of experience in the field of publishing Christina founded and successfully grew a publishing and advertising agency with her husband David in 1990 She is not only accomplished in publishing but is skilled in graphic design marketing and is an award winning illustrator and brand developer Some of her largest publishing clients over the years have been KC Publications a publisher for books on National Parks as well as Paul Oxman Publishing where she produced custom motorcycle calendars and books under licensing through Harley Davidson Her design clients have included HBO Death Valley National Park NASA David Cassidy Partridge Family Nancy Cartwright voice of Bart Simpson magicians Siegfried Roy Desi Arnaz Jr The Mirage Hotel The Bellagio Hotel and multiple nonprofits including Fundraisers com and KidsCharities org as well as many other clients Christina returned to college full time in 2013 and earned three AS degrees in Natural Resources Forestry and Geographic Information Systems and she currently attends Oregon State University where she is a senior obtaining her bachelor s degree in natural resources policy and managment Even as the publisher of AVOW Magazine her full time career has her working for the federal government She is a forestry technician in silviculture where she tends to the health of a national forest She is the proud daughter of a retired Army General and the proud mother of son who has served in the USAF for over 13 years 11

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T he branches don t discriminate whether you re going active duty or reserve When it comes to boot camp you re all treated the same Every recruit must be able to do their job and do it to their fullest The whole purpose is to be prepared for war NO EXCEPTIONS When I was at Parris Island we had one series for females which consisted of two platoons We graduated with 60 in the whole series This was extremely small compared to the males In one of our orientation classes the instructor told us Look to your left and look to your right one of you is not going to make it The mental part of boot camp was tough for the younger women often this was their first time away from home I was 29 years old When you are at boot camp it doesn t matter how old you are or whether you want to go active duty or reserve If you can t live up to the standards you are out End of story They try their best to eliminate They put you through grueling physical and mental challenges I remember another recruit who found out I was going in the reserves and said I can t believe you would go through all this just to be a reservist Whether you are 18 or 29 active duty or reserve you must do it or you don t earn the coveted symbol the Eagle Globe and Anchor EGA When I went to my first duty station I didn t think Oh I m a reservist I was proud to have earned my EGA and excited for my new career I ve always been a hard worker and I ve had a few different jobs in my life One thing I ve learned from all of them is this every job has good workers and every job has bad workers There are good people and not so good people in all walks of life Throughout my military career I ve heard people say they don t like reservists I ve heard things like They only work two days a month What did they think We work two days a month and sit around watching television the other days I personally worked full time putting myself through college and working in the military At my unit after a drill weekend the Marines would get that Monday and Friday off to make up for working the weekend Reservists were getting up early Monday morning to go to their second or third job no matter what time Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 Corporal Hairston and SSgt Melissa Allen they worked until Sunday night Legally they could call us in from Friday night and keep us till 11 59 p m on Sunday night Some don t realize that reservists can be called to active duty at any time should the need arise Reservists have been called to fight wars throughout history During the Korean War more than 240 000 reservists were called to active duty Since WWII reservists have been involuntarily ordered to active duty in the Berlin Crisis 196162 the Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 the Vietnam War 1968 69 the Persian Gulf War 1990 91 the intervention in Haiti 1994 96 the Bosnia Peacekeeping Mission 1995 present and the Iraqi Conflict 1998 present according to the Congressional Research Service report Not only are reservists criticized by their brothers and sisters in arms they receive flack from their civilian counterparts When I received my dates for drill weekends and annual training I always let my boss know as soon as possible Most of the time I spent as a reservist I was also a teacher with the School District of Philadelphia People would assume because I was a teacher and had summers off all my training should be done during July and August you know because all reservists are teachers and all military operations take place during that time People who have never spent a day of their life serving this great country of ours would give their unsolicited uneducated opinion that I was going away with the military because I wanted to get out of work What did they think that I was going on a two week cruise to the islands I spent a total of 20 years serving my country A total of two years was active and the other 18 were spent in the reserves In conclusion what I have learned over the years is that everyone must follow the path that is best for them Just because someone s service was different than yours does not make it less Once you ve earned the title of service member no one can take it away from you Do you really want to disrespect and or anger a person that you might be sitting in the foxhole with when your life depends on them That US on your uniform includes us too ALL who served 13

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Editor s Note Every so often we choose to highlight a story that while not written by a woman veteran may benefit women veterans Below is an excerpt from one such article submitted by Ciaran O Malley Army Veteran and Peloton enthusiast In his submission to us he discusses the purchase of a Peloton for his family While we are aware of the controversy surrounding Peleton s advertising we feel strongly that where women veterans are encouraged and supported within the veteran community the voice should be raised For those of our readers who enjoy Peloton already this article may be of additional value to you for those who do not we salute Peleton s intent to connect veterans to each other and suggest that if in the future you decide to give Peloton a try consider checking into the Peloton Military Veterans group or tribesavailable to connect yourself to one another 14 Winter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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RIDING MY LIFE AWAY BY CIARAN O MALLEY W e bought our Peloton bike in April 2018 and found that by having the gym in our home we could use our limited free time more efficiently But as with all workout routines we eventually found it difficult to stay motivated and went to search the Peloton tribes groups of like minded Peloton users We like many other veterans found ours in the Peloton Military and Veterans group The idea for a veterans Home Rider Invasion HRI was born out of small local gatherings These micro events were so well received that several members decided to begin planning for a much larger scale HRI to get more of us together and it was decided there is no better time of the year than Veterans Day weekend to celebrate together One of the group s key HRI planners was Trista Goings a Marine Corps veteran who recounts As the planning started I knew how special this group was They all had the same humor drive and dedication As a disabled veteran I sometimes don t want to push myself too hard for fear of worsening my issues but when I ride with these people from home I am driven so I knew if I met them in person and we rode and ran together that I would feel invincible More than 75 members of the Peloton Military and Veterans group on social media of which I m an admin came togetherfromalloverthecountrytocelebrate Veterans Day in New York City As they Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 started pouring in people immediately came together as if we were old friends In a way we were as the bonds of friendship forged by military service are some of the strongest I can think of Throughout the weekend veterans came together to exercise and reflect on shared experiences Peloton Tread Instructor Selena Samuela whose father served in Afghanistan was particularly effusive in her support for our military and veterans both during her classes that weekend and on social media On rides throughout the weekend group members wore shirts specially designed for the event Part of the shirt proceeds were donated to Mission 22 a non profit that combats the ever rising veteran suicide rate Army veteran and planner Jacqui Cincotta summed up the weekend perfectly when she said Our Military and Veteran HRI was so much more than just riding and running in the Peloton studios It was fun laughter fitness and friendship rolled into a very memorable Veteran s Day weekend At the end of the day I consider myself lucky to have found a group of people so supportive and fun The Peloton Military and Veterans group has rekindled a sense of community and camaraderie I haven t felt since the end of my service in the Army I m proud to be a member of this community and am looking forward to another successful Military Veterans HRI in 2020 15

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Elizabeth Diamant FASHION BY CHRISTINA WILKINSON PHOTOGRAPHY AG PHOTOWORKS MONICA MCLEAN PHOTOGRAPHY Her brand designs timeless fashion for the modern woman and while she doesn t base her designs off of what is current she certainly listens to the market This fashion mogul discovered her love for fashion and began designing in October 2017 after opening an online boutique and not being able to find the designs that she was searching for At that time she was still in the military I n this century the trends of the fashion industry dominate and control how people dress and exudes a population s overall attitude more than ever In the 50s poodle skirts kitten heels leather jackets and capri pants summed up the attitude of an entire generation The 70s did the same thing with bell bottom jeans and polyester suits but when we fast forward to today fashion is even more prominent and sophisticated yet it lacks one important thing of the past Today fashion is bold daring and sexy and this is reflected in our current technology 16 driven generation This generation is not afraid to say what they think on or offline Fashion isn t just a way to cover their bodies clothing is their personality what they believe in and how they portray themselves as individuals That is why this generation isn t afraid to wear what they want So fashion designers are very aware of the power they hold when someone wears their brand and they follow the masses Unfortunately what lacks in fashion today is clothing that is timeless This is where Liz Williams steps up to the fashion world and takes it to another level without moving backwards She brings not only the bold and sexy but the timeless and classic Having worked in the legal profession by trade Liz served nine years active duty in the U S Army She served as a paralegal and legal administrator in the JAG Corps and retired as a Warrant Officer in January 2019 Liz told us I was talking to a guy that I was dating at the time and had expressed to him that I wanted to have another stream of income He suggested that I open an online boutique saying that my personal fashion sense made me a great fit for that sort of thing Winter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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When asked where she sees herself in ten years Liz tells us I see my designs in department stores and red carpets globally Her goal with Elizabeth Diamant Inc is to train and mentor at risk adolescent teenage girls to become entrepreneurs within the fashion industry with nonprofit chapters of Elizabeth Diamant across North America 18 I initially wasn t interested at all because I felt that I didn t know enough people to be selling dresses and I felt like it was an oversaturated market For over an hour he gave me reason after reason as to why I should do it Finally just to change the subject I told him I would think about it She continued Two days after that conversation two other people who did not know each other nor were they privy to the initial conversation suggested similar paths for me I am big on God sending signs Three people saying the same things within three days was a big sign for me A week after making her first dress Liz had her first paying customer Approximately two months later she was contacted by Kendra Hill who was working with a gospel singer by the Winter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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name of Isabel Davis She had been following Liz on IG and wanted pieces for a photo shoot That encounter turned into Liz making a custom couture dress for Isabel Davis to wear on the 2018 Stellar Awards Red Carpet The scion to the preeminent fashion brand Elizabeth Diamant Inc As a self taught designer she draws most of her inspiration from emotional experiences I don t have a lot of knowledge of all the greats within fashion but I am learning and gaining more and more insight daily she told us Liz doesn t use any technology to design her pieces Instead she tells us Many of my designs are formulated after I find the fabric that I want to use Not all designers do the same thing so Liz shared her design process for us a recent process for her collections starting off with brainstorming phrases along with words that are connected to the message she wants her collection to convey 20 PHOTO BY PIXABAY After that she condenses the list and begins searching for images online depicting the mood of those words I ll gather as many photos as catch my eye and then I ll go through those photos and narrow it down to about 1012 photos From there I will create a mood board and come up with the specific design She told us she has yet to stick to this process when creating a collection This is because her designs are largely created from her emotion which changes she doesn t hold herself to the strict standards of a mood board It is merely a guide for her Liz dove head first into the world of fashion with no connections or knowledge of the industry Now two years after opening Elizabeth Diamant she is placing her brand in situations to learn and grow from people within the fashion industry Her growth has included multiple highend fashion shows all over the United States and most recently was at the leading fashion industry event in the southwest Phoenix Fashion Week that took place in October To achieve success in the fashion indus try Liz tells us you must have a business mindset and understand how to leverage your talent You must be skilled in never giving up and out working the next person I have seen that technical skill is important but it isn t necessarily what will get you that big opportunity Tenacity is a skill that is necessary as a fashion designer because the fashion world is fickle and you have to push through the times when you aren t trending Fashion design is about great inspiration With life as her inspiration Liz first full collection for 2019 was inspired by her struggle with PTSD and depression There is such a polarity that lives inside me and I wanted to express that through the clothes that I design Liz relayed to us She further shared that the pairings of 100 silk with a fashion weight neoprene is very unconventional unexpected and opposing but so is she She also creates clothes that her target audience Winter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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can feel comfortable in This is because she knows the changes that the female body goes through no matter how well kept She wanted to address body changes in the silhouettes she creates One of her current favorite designers is Sergio Hudson I definitely draw inspiration from him to continue on my own journey and create pieces that are true to my brand Liz shared A solid business model in the fashion industry In the fashion industry a person s work ethic will make or break their business Liz noted If you can t discipline yourself and plan your work you will have a hard time in anything to include fashion Included in my set of work ethics are integrity tenacity discipline and passion Liz told us that she has met designers who have gone to Parson School of Fashion as well as those who have interned at reputable fashion houses prior to starting their own brand She also knows designers like herself who have no formal training and no background in fashion Her favorite part of being a fashion designer is the feeling that she gets when women can find themselves again after discovering the Elizabeth Diamant brand Countless women including models have expressed to Liz how sexy and empowered they feel when wearing one of her pieces Liz tells us of her brand I have had women call me in tears saying that they felt beautiful again after wearing Elizabeth Diamant It is a great feeling that the mission I have for my brand is being realized one design one woman at a time She admittedly says that her greatest strength is her tenacity and willingness to create a circle and then step outside of it on the other hand her weakness is that she can really get inside her own head by overthinking As a new fashion designer still looking from the outside in or even doing just the opposite Liz may feel like her view or path is skewed but it could in fact be her genuine naivety of how things are normally done that brings about change to the industry In this technology driven world where clothing is considered throwaway and no longer timeless the Elizabeth Diamant brand is leading the way to bring back this elusive and challenging fashion style Creating timeless and classic designs for the modern woman is at the forefront of Liz business model Liz Williams personal style is boss lady sexy and she confidently tells us Honestly I feel like fashion chose me And it probably did Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 23

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17 Please be advised this is a TRIGGER article SE ENTEEN BY TSGT SAMANTHA A NOBLITT USAF 117 ARW USA SEVENTEEN THE NUMBER OF TIMES MY EX HUSBAND S FIST CONNECTED WITH THE FLESH ON MY RIGHT ARM ON A COLD DECEMBER NIGHT WHILE I WAS DRIVING US HOME FROM A PARTY O ne the number of shots that left my ex husband s 9mm Glock 43 as he aimed out of the truck window before putting it to my head and saying The next time I shoot this gun it s going through you Seconds the time it took me to throw the truck in neutral and jump out of it as we were traveling down the interstate I wish I could say this was the first time the abuse had happened I wish I could say I left immediately after this Unfortunately it was not the first time and I did not leave I was young and blinded by love as most young women who fall in love are I was excited to be the first one of my friends to get married and start a family I ignored the red flags which looking back were everywhere From the time after about six months of dating that we 24 moved in together he wanted to go through my phone any time I had been away from him He cheated on me called me crazy the whole time for accusing him of it and later admitted it He picked fights over every little thing and nothing I did was good enough He never wanted me to hang out with my friends or even family and he didn t want me to do anything without involving him He was quick to anger and jealousy All of this I chalked up to the new adjustment of living together and being young Part of me thought it was refreshing to have someone love me so much they were jealous an emotion I now see as being harmful At the time I didn t realize I was experiencing emotional mental abuse We got married in 2015 and the physical abuse started as a little slap occasionally when I did something to make him angry Everything was my fault No matter what actually made him mad somehow he would always connect it to me Sometimes I was hit because I was too fat other times because I wasn t pretty enough I was constantly compared to past girlfriends and to the girlfriends of his friends The abuse continued to escalate from being kicked and punched to sometimes being choked or smothered He would bash my head against walls windows tables anything with a hard surface He would hide my keys and my phone and then lock me in rooms where he would hurt me to the point that I would have to take off work so nobody saw the bruises After realizing he was leaving too many bruises he started punching me in the stomach because the stomach doesn t bruise The first time he put a gun to my head he used his AR15 and made me sit on my knees in the bathWinter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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JUAN PABLO SERRANO ARENAS After realizing he was leaving too many bruises he started punching me in the stomach room while telling me to beg for my life if I wanted to live He not only abused me he did his best to degrade me in any way that he could Usually after his rampages against me he would force me to have sex with him I would plead and say things like No please don t make me or No I don t want to have sex with you now When I told him at times he was raping me his response varied from You can t rape your spouse to You re my wife I own you I reached a point in my life that I felt degraded to the point I hated myself and my life He isolated me from everyone and constantly tried to bully me into quitting my job I felt alone and saw no way out Every time I threatened to leave he said he would kill me or my family or himself He played on my guilt He also played on my emotions by trying to convince me that nobody else would ever love Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 me I was told I needed to appreciate the love he gave me because I would never have better He made me believe for the longest time that the relationship I envisioned for myself with someone did not exist He said it was makebelieve and I was stupid I now see this was his way of trying to keep me from leaving because if I left he no longer had control Fortunately a fellow co worker recognized the signs in me because she had gone through it herself Her story is not mine to tell but it helped pull me out of my situation She encouraged me She gave me hope She helped me to see that it was not my fault and that I did not have to stay I could leave and I didn t have to be scared She probably talked to me for about a year before I made the decision to leave A month before I left my ex husband we had gone to a friend of his wedding At this point in my life I was now the mother of an absolutely perfect six month old boy Thankfully that night my parents had my son We left the wedding came home and as soon as we got inside he started on one of his rampages I was hit spit on punched in the stomach and a baseball bat was swung at my head that I was able to dodge at this point I was in tears screaming and crying for him to please just stop His response to me was Do you ever want to see your son again I nodded my head yes then he said I better not hear another sound come from you then I laid in bed and prayed to God that if He would just let me survive this night I would leave I would leave when I got the chance if He just got me through the night I survived that night and a month later he hit me while I was in the shower He was angry SEVENTEEN Continued on NEXT page 25

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ANDRE FURTADO love coming from the right person heals your mind and your soul in ways that are so beautiful you won t understand until you find it SEVENTEEN Continued from page 25 because I had brought my phone in the bathroom with me I was texting my grandmother about our plans for that day When he finally left for work I packed only the essentials for myself and my son and we left I told myself that was the last day he was EVER going to put his hands on me I told myself I was done being scared I had lived in fear of this man for three years I had lived under his control for three years I told myself I d be damned if I d do it another day I realized that he was nothing but a coward hiding behind his own insecurities that had nothing to do with me but had to do with how he felt about himself Misery loves company and he was miserable It wasn t the easiest decision We had a home together bills together and a child together There have been hurdles since leaving and I still have more to face I have nightmares involving 26 him I see a counselor who has helped tremendously but every day I have to work at fighting off insecurities and fears that he left me with however I can tell you that while there is a light at the end of that tunnel nobody can get you to that light but you houses and bills and things you have with someone are replaceable your child is better off with divorced parents than with their mother or father dead because of domestic violence I can tell you that the nightmares become few and far between I can tell you that every day you will feel more and more like yourself I can tell you that the love and relationship you want is out there I can tell you that when you find that person and that relationship their love is so much better than the love you were told you would never have better than I can tell you that love coming from the right person heals your mind and your soul in ways that are so beautiful you won t understand until you find it Love from the right person does exactly what God says it does Love covers over all wrongs Proverbs 10 12 About 1 in 4 women 24 3 and 1 in 7 men 13 8 aged 18 and older in the United States have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime according to the Center for Disease Control s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey and according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence 72 of all murder suicides involve an intimate partner and 94 of the victims of these murdersuicides are female If you or someone you know has been victimized by domestic violence call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1 800 799 SAFE Winter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Shoshianna Moore is part owner of Not Cho Cheesecake She started her career in the Army where she was a 92Y Unit Supply Specialist for 6 years She deployed to Afghanistan and was medically discharged in 2016 as a sergeant with a list of awards and certifications Not Cho Cheesecake was born after a fun filled trip that took place July 2019 in Memphis Tennessee where Shoshianna and a group of her girlfriends visited a local cheesecake bakery This local business had everything from delicious cheesecake to exquisite wine and an unforgettable vibe that would have anyone likely to return The experience was such a joy they went back again the next day to try more flavors of cheesecake That s when she and her business partner Aina Robinson came to the conclusion that Oklahoma needed to experience something like this They immediately began to brainstorm ideas names flavors colors etc and began mixing pouring and baking Just two weeks later they had a company name and a cheesecake recipe that could silence any craving in the room Not Cho Cheesecake officially launched to the world on Sept 2 2019 and it has been an incredible journey since notchocheesecake notchocheesecake CURRENTLY OFFERING PIECES OF HEAVEN THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES EXCLUDING BOTH CANADA AND HAWAII Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 27

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REDISCOVERING YOUR IDENTITY AFTER MILITARY SERVICE LET YOUR SERVICE EMPOWER YOU NOT DEFINE YOU COMMENTARY BY ERIN TROWER F rom the time I was little I never knew I wanted to join the military I did however know I had always wanted to be a mom Then one day through a series of exciting and unexpected events I found myself graduating from Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base Texas It was from this point on I realized that life was all about balance and raising a military 28 family was not something to be taken lightly Ever since joining the military I worked with plenty of women who had children and they seemed to have their lives all together I knew deep down inside that being a mother and serving in the military probably wasn t an easy task for these women but they did it and I was assured I could too I gave birth to my first child Gracelyn in late January 2018 while stationed in Louisiana I was so thankful to have received 12 weeks of maternity leave so I could not only recover from my cesarean section but most importantly spend time with my new precious gift As time grew closer to me going back to work I began to feel panicked and overwhelmed I started looking at daycare facilities both on and off base but I just couldn t bear the thought of Winter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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being away from my child for that long If I couldn t face a single day alone how was I going to face temporary duty assignments TDY s or deployment I always wanted to be a mom but why was I so torn about sacrificing my military career for this privilege My husband who is also active duty and I had to have a serious discussion about our options over the next several weeks and we made the major decision that me separating from the military may be the best option for our family at the time All along I had been taking classes toward my bachelor s degree while on active duty and realistically when I enlisted I didn t plan on making the military a career to begin with Coincidentally my six year enlistment had come to an end just two weeks after I had returned from maternity leave as well so the timing couldn t have been any better But for some reason even though all the stars were aligning and common sense said I was making the right choice something felt off The military had become a part of me and who I was I represented the Air Force just as much as the service represented me As I started to out process from active duty my desk became more and more empty I began packing up awards personal letters promotion certificates mementoes and all the other small reminders of where I had been and what I had done with my life over the past six years Although my heart was full of joy with the thought of spending my days teaching and growing with my daughter part of my heart felt like it was breaking at the same time I began to feel anxious depressed and extremely stressed over the thought of leaving my career and all I had worked for to be a full time student and stay at home mom Although I felt so blessed that I even had the choice to leave the service and dedicate my days to my family I still felt heartbroken about it I will never forget the day that I signed out the last day I wore my uniform I walked into the Military Personnel Center signed a few documents and was told to have a great day That was it a few ink smears on some papers and my career was over and there was no turning back The days and weeks ahead were wonderful but exhausting at the same time all feelings that any new parent can relate to Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 It s been 16 months since I left the military and I still sometimes wonder if I made the best choice for my career and my family As these thoughts of doubt began taking over my mind I finally paused last week to reflect on everything that has happened over the past 16 months I needed to get myself into the right headspace and move on with my life Here is what I came up with For all men and women who leave the military just remember we all have to do it one day For some it s a simple four year blip on their timeline and for others it s a 30 year career of grueling dedication No matter the length of time in service your service matters What you accomplished matters Life of military service in uniform is a chapter we will all have to close one day It s a scary thing to do It s such a big transition that the military has transitional classes set up for us as a guide into the civilian world It s a big deal However although our time serving matters so does the time we have afterward Rediscovering your worth talents aspirations and character are not something you will discover overnight It takes time and usually lots of it So many of my male and female service member friends feel lost after they leave the military because starting over can be challenging terrifying and daunting My biggest words of advice are to not forget to focus on yourself and your future plans while in the military I think it s so important to have a long term plan and remind yourself the military is not forever It will forever be a part of you but it doesn t define you Continue your education discover new passions and continue to share your stories and experiences you have while you serve I think open communication is such an undervalued tool that we all have the capability of using Talk with your family friends neighbors or co workers and cherish the memories you have because they re valuable and precious Don t allow leaving the military to make you feel distraught for long but remember that it is okay to grieve Similar to losing a friend you lost a piece of who you were But that s not all you are It s just a fragment Rebuild have those conversations and stay involved and most of all thank you for your dedicated service 29

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Accessories Discounts Buckle 10 Discount Active duty and veteran members of the United States Armed Forces including National Guard and Reserves their spouses and dependents may receive a 10 discount with every merchandise purchase regular and sale on buckle com and in Buckle stores Visit Buckle for more details buckle com Claire s 20 Discount One of the world s leading specialty retailers of fashionable jewelry and accessories Discount off full priced items when presenting a valid military ID claires com GlassesUSA 60 Discount Discount applies to all frames and top brands with free quality lenses Free shipping returns and 100 money back guarantee glassesusa com JamesFree Jewelers 15 Discount Offers currently serving and non active military personnel and their immediate family 15 off regularly priced items Offer valid in store and online To claim your discount in store please have a valid U S Military ID to present To claim your discount online please use your mil email address at checkout jamesfree com first responder military discount JoAnn Fabric 15 Discount enroll online Large assortment of fabric sewing quilting paper crafting yarn jewelry and crafts under one roof Discount is eligible every day on every purchase Digital discount card valid in store online Exclusions apply joann com military discount PHOTO BY LR SOLYANAYA Ray Ban 15 Discount after online verification 30 30 Discount is off the entire purchase for those currently serving or who have served our country in the past This deal is only available online from Ray Ban s official website Cannot be used in person or through third party sellers shop id me stores 381 ray ban Fall 2019 www AVOWMagazine com Winter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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SOLYANAYA While we have checked the validity of each of these offers just prior to publishing we recommend that you the consumer contact a business prior to obtaining a discount We are not responsible for errors in company offers SmartBuyGlasses 10 Discount Military discount on all products On Smartbuyglasses com fill in the pop up to verify your military status and receive your discount code Once your status is verified they will send your personalized discount to your email address Then apply the discount code in the cart before checkout and payment Smartbuyglasses com Sword Plough 15 and 20 Discounts Jewelry purses and more A 20 discount for active duty veterans family members of active duty veterans and Gold Star families VIP02120 A 15 discount for family and friends VIP02115 Both discounts good every time you order http bit ly robbinalex Tiffany Co 10 Discount Discount off engagement rings and wedding bands for active duty reservists and veterans of the U S Armed Forces Fianc s domestic partners wives and husbands are eligible for the accommodation even if their U S military partner is stationed overseas and not able to come into the store However it may not be extended to anyone else including family members Available in store and only in the U S tiffany com Vera Bradley 15 Online Discount Available to active duty retirees veterans reserve national guard and dependents To receive discount you ll be asked to verify your eligibility with ID me at online checkout Visit the Vera Bradley website for more information verabradley com Wilsons Leather 10 Discount Discount offered to active inactive and retired military as well as their spouses and dependents who have a valid military ID To redeem the discount in a store please have your Military ID available to show the sales associate To redeem the discount online please have your military ID ready and contact customer service agents at 1 866 305 4704 The Military Discount is not combinable with other offers or coupons wilsonsleather com Facebook com AVOWMagazine Fall 2019 Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 31

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KATIE TREADWAY MILITARY HUMOR 8 SIMPLE AIR FORCE RULES 1 Get up at the crack of 0800 2 Adjust the air conditioner 3 See what s on NetFlix 4 Request more funding from Congress with a killer Power Point presentation 5 Brown nose everyone you can for more funding 6 Receive funding Change name of command and ask for more backup 7 Declare all assets strategic but never deploy them 8 Hurry to make the 1800 concert time WHAT IS A MARINE Magnetic And Rowdy Individuals Nonetheless Elite 32 WET BEHIND THE EARS Two Air Force Intelligence Officers fresh out of tech school were set up for lodging in an off base hotel room Being officers the hotel was a fancy one near their overseas base until on base quarters were ready One asks the other I am really thirsty isn t there water in this room Yes the other responded I saw some glasses in the bathroom and there s also a water fountain I ll go get you a glass After taking a huge drink the one officer responds with This water tastes really bad The intel officer who got the first glass went and got more water and took a drink of it themselves You are right This tastes awful So they both went to the front desk to let the hotel know there is a problem with the drinking fountain in their room We both drank a glass of it and it tastes really bad they told the front desk person That s funny because we don t have water fountains in our bathrooms we only have bidets 3 SIMPLE NAVY RULES 1 Get on a ship 2 Drink coffee 3 Deploy the Marines Do you have a funny story about your time in the military Email it to us at contact avowmagazine com Winter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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NOT JUST YOUR AVERAGE JOE BY DANIELLE JOHNSON T he Department of Veteran Affairs Voluntary Service VAVS program has been in existence since 1946 where fellow veterans and civilian supporters volunteer at the 170 VA medical centers nationwide In 2019 The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that over 75 000 Volunteers have served over 12 million hours saving the VA more than 232 million annually with 77 million in gifts and donations A VAVS volunteer essentially donates their time and skills to not only help the VA medical center but also to help the community of active reserve and retired service members where delivery of medical care services and support are not only important to the service member but their family members as well What s amazing is that some of these volunteers are veterans contributing their time while they are still receiving care at a VA facility themselves 34 James J Peters VA Medical Center located in Kingsbridge Bronx New York City VAVS volunteers assist in areas that include but are not limited to escorting veterans to appointments transporting them from their homes to the medical center clerical duties in various clinics giving directions or escorting visitors and socializing with veteran patients on the medical wards What better benefit is there with endless other opportunities to make a meaningful contribution You can acquire new skills have a good reference for employment and or education programs meet new people and make new friends It was just a little over two years ago when at the request of my Primary Care Physician PCP at the VA medical center I applied to become a VAVS volunteer because as she stated the program needed more women veterans Once assigned to the Voluntary and Chaplin Service and shortly thereafter becoming an integral part of the prospect volunteer The hospital is the headquarters of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks New York New Jersey VA Health Care Network pre screening process I ve found a higher number of non veteran women applicants being processed as volunteers in comparison to the number of male veteran applicants My PCP was right There is a greater need for more individual women veterans in a wide range of VA operations With women comprising 11 percent of the veteran population many don t realize that working with other veterans and the increasing number of women veterans in need of medical care presents many opportunities It was at the James J Peters VA Medical Center where I met Beverly Bowne one of the Winter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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The greatest reward is knowing that we are making a difference for our fellow vets Beverly Bowne few women veterans volunteering throughout the center Beverly was the one who acquainted me with the Voluntary and Chaplin Service Office when I first became a VAVS volunteer We would sort clothing donations for the Helping Hands Thrift Shop where veterans can get needed clothing dispatch escort wheelchair transports monitor the office incoming calls and much more Better yet we became the best of friends Beverly served in the U S Army from 1975 to 1978 and was honorably discharged Shortly after her discharge she worked in the publishing field as a billing coordinator for 31 years She lives in walking distance of the VA medical center and has been volunteering there for over 4 years What I admire so much about Beverly is her viewpoint when it comes to serving as a VAVS volunteer She offers this advice If one wishes to become a volunteer one should be there with the simple desire of serving others no alternative motives Beverly has made significant accomplishments as a VAVS volunteer by working on the Organ Donation Project information desk distributing veteran information broFacebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 chures assisting the Chaplin in bringing communion to the veteran residents in the community living center and like myself has become a Red Coat Ambassador The VA Red Coat Ambassador Program is there to enhance the veterans experience when they come to their appointments Current VAVS volunteers are specifically selected for the program based on their wonderful personalities that coincide with them providing customer service support in various roles at the medical center Women have always played an important role in our military and this makes women veterans an important part of the veteran community and within the VA compared to their male counterparts We are not just your average Joe Beverly is one of the few women veterans here at the VA medical center that does not fit the generic description of an American fighting male Joe and knows she is one of the biggest access points to helping other veterans She believes her greatest reward is in knowing that women veterans are making a difference for our fellow vets and maybe have a little more understanding than those who are not veterans It is the connection that counts What better person to understand what a veteran is going through than another veteran It also reestablishes the sense of comradery and trust between service members There certainly are plenty of veteran organizations with women veteran members collectively serving our veterans that have a great impact in working with the veteran community and continuing to make strides in veteran care like the Disabled American Veterans Wounded Warrior Project Vets for Vets and the Montford Point Marine Association to name a few however there are a few women veterans who are still ready to meet the challenge individually by continuing with strong service history by becoming a VAVS volunteer For more information about the VA Voluntary Service program go to www volunteer va gov or to find out about Veteran Service Organizations near you go to www va gov vso You can make a difference 35

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INFORMATION MY MILITARY RESOURCES WEBSITES va gov womenvet Center for Women Veterans Monitor and coordinate VA s administration of health care and benefits services and programs for women Veterans womenshealth va gov Women Veterans Health Care Learn more about the changing face of women Veterans and what VA is doing to meet their health care needs dol gov vets womenveterans The Women Veteran Program monitors the employment situation of women veterans to ensure DOL VETS programs serve women veterans and male veterans equitably aapf org black women veterans Join us for a conversation where we explore the under discussed marginalization and abuse of Black women who serve and protect our country womenveteransalliance com The premier women veterans network focused on directly impacting the quality of life of women veterans Creating a community both online and off line including local women veteran networking groups community events and national conferences world wide which provide opportunities to connect and grow Searchable directories for women veterans Organizations womenveteransalliance org allies Resources womenveteransalliance org resources Women Vet owned businesses womenveteransalliance org women veteran owned business directory veteranwomensec org To position women veteran business owners Active Duty Reservist and or military spouses as our nation s leading small business revenue generators and employers Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 americanwomenveterans org American Women Veterans is the nation s preeminent non partisan 501 c 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to serving honoring and empowering military women veterans and their families AWV welcomes veterans and supporters from all eras and branches of service SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook com VeteranWomenSEC Facebook com AmericanWomenVeterans Facebook com WomenVeteransAlliance MEET UP GROUPS meetup com WomenVeteransBusinessOwnersUnited search meetup Dallas meetup com topics women veterans PHONE NUMBERS Women Veterans Call Center 855 829 6636 National Suicide Hotline 1 800 273 TALK 8255 Stop Soldier Suicide 1 800 273 8255 1 37

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WOMEN S RESPECT BY PAT WHITE Marching across the parade deck at Parris Island becoming a U S Marine was and still is one of the proudest moments of my life According to AP News as of 2016 women make up approximately 20 of the Air Force 19 of the Navy 15 of the Army and almost 9 of the Marine Corps I briefly thought about joining the military in high school but I couldn t get anyone to go with me and my mom didn t want me to have any parts of that Fast forward to 1992 I was working full time and putting myself through college part time I was running out of money and thought of the military for the Montgomery GI Bill I had thought long and hard about my decision and knew I had to act quickly because I was already 28 years old I was set on joining the Air Force My friend who is a Marine said to me It s a good thing you re joining the Air Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 Force because you could never do what we do Challenge accepted On Nov 25 1992 I was sworn into the U S Marine Corps Reserve and scheduled to go to boot camp on Jan 4 1993 at 29 years old Tragically on Dec 25 1992 Christmas day my mother suddenly passed away from a massive heart attack and my world shattered I didn t know how I could go on without my best friend by my side My date to go to boot camp was postponed Rather than wait I called the recruiter and said get me down there as soon as possible On April 30 1993 I officially became a U S Marine Once I came home and resumed my life as a civilian I assumed everyone would want to talk about the Marines Boy was I wrong I found out from other women Marines that flew home that people were mistaking them for flight attendants My job was also not happy about me needing off for my drill weekends and two week annual trainings I learned to not even talk about it because no one was interested Through volunteering with Toys for Tots 39

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I met and married my wonderful husband who was also serving as a Marine Nowadays he is still always wearing a USMC hat and usually a USMC shirt People are always walking up to him thanking him for his service and saying Semper Fi When people walk up to my husband he always makes a point to tell them that I was a Marine also Some people don t care and will turn their back on me and just talk to my husband I remember one time we were at Disney World and I was wearing a yellow shirt with a bulldog and Marines written on it A man came up to me and asked Oh you re from Seattle I responded that we were from Philadelphia He said I saw your Mariners shirt I corrected Pat with husband Gary while still serving him pointing out the word and today Marines The Mariners colors are blue green silver and white Years later we were at Disney World again and this time I was celebrating my retirement from the Air Force yes I even crossed branches after serving my country for 20 years I proudly wore a pin that showed I was celebrating my retirement from the military The first morning at breakfast the cashier saw my pin and turned to my husband with Congratulations I replied I m wearing the pin Why would you say congratulations to him That same week a man saw my pin and congratulated my husband this time another woman with him corrected him At restaurants we ask if they offer a military discount Most of the time they tell my husband he is the only one that can get a discount because it s only for the service member himself He always replies that I was also in the military and at this point I have my ID out This infuriates me 40 Just last month I was in a restaurant with my son I saw a sign on the window that indicated they gave military discounts I told the waitress that I would like a military discount and she said to wait until the end to show my ID She came out with the bill and when I reminded her about the discount she took my ID and heavily scrutinized it She questioned everything on it She asked about the color the expiration date and why I didn t have a retired ID I explained that was my retired ID and that s why it showed retired She then said Well it doesn t look like my husband s ID I m sure a man would not have to put up with this I just paid my bill and left but it really bothered me The more I thought about it the more angry I got I complained to my husband as I usually do but I told him I was going to complain to the owner I usually never do this I contacted the owner and explained everything to him He responded in under two hours He apologized profusely and said he would explain ID cards to his employees He also offered us a complimentary meal and forwarded the email to the waitress She wrote back and apologized and said instead of scrutinizing the ID she should have thanked me for my service My intention is never to get free stuff I just want the respect I deserve the same they give my husband and other men who serve Why is it that in 2019 people still assume that men are the veterans Women have a larger presence in our military today than ever before Women had to disguise themselves as men alongside their husbands during the American Revolution With more than 200 000 women serving today according to The Huffington Post the Department of Veteran Affairs predicts that by 2020 women veterans will comprise 11 of the total veteran population This is still relatively small but more than ever before Even though women have been serving in our military since 1917 it wasn t until 1948 that Congress passed the Women s Armed Services Integration Act entitling women to earn veteran s benefits and permanent active Winter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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Pat White with her son during National Son s Day To the left at the Marine Corps Ball in 2019 and reserve status in all five branches That s a 31 year gap In recent years millions of women have been marching for equal rights Why is it then when it comes to the military we are not giving our fellow sisters the respect and credit they deserve After a woman tells you she served do you thank her like you would a man Maybe I just notice these things more because of the attention my husband gets Even still when you see a woman talking about the branch she served with just say thank you Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 Pat White is author of the book Molly the Marine This book talks about just a few of the jobs that are available in the United States Marine Corps The book encourages girls to believe in themselves and work together Together we can change the world Available on Amazon 41

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Mission BBQ s welcome wagon Conversing with Claudette Williams HONOR FLIGHT NETWORK S MISSION STATEMENT To transport America s Veterans to Washington DC to visit those memorials dedicated to honor the service and sacrifices of themselves and their friends Honor Flight Network is a non profit organization created solely to honor America s veterans for all their sacrifices We transport our heroes to Washington D C to visit and reflect at their memorials Top priority is given to the senior veterans World War II survivors along with those other veterans who may be terminally ill W hile I knew what an Honor Flight was having escorted these big busses full of veterans returning from Washington D C at the Pennsylvania state line to their home destination before as a motorcyclist on Sept 21 2019 I attended my own Honor Flight the first of its kind ever in PA and the thirdever All Female All Wars Honor Flight I admit that I wanted to get on that bus in Philly as a veteran but at the same time I felt others were more deserving There must be Vietnam era veterans out there and World War II ahead of me a Operation Enduring Freedom veteran I contacted the organizers and announced Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 myself as a photographer and as the Editor of AVOW Magazine I tossed in that I was also a veteran and had escorted two flights myself as a motorcycle rider way back when I rode with Hogs and Heroes PA3 out of DelCo PA and again as a District 6 Legion Rider with the Stars and Stripes Bars and Pipes SSBP Motorcycle Organization To my surprise I was accepted on the bus with open arms and I was excited to get the opportunity to interview these spectacular women veterans I left Bethlehem Pennsylvania at 0330 and rode in the brisk morning an hour and a half to arrive to Mission BBQ There was a deuce and a half waiting with flags and breakfast was offered inside the local Mission BBQ franchise that I d never seen before Everything within was military related As I clutched my camera obtained my badge and partook of the generous breakfast where I met with several women I found I wasn t interviewing them I just wanted to know who they were and where did all these women veterans I never knew existed come from I reverted from being an editor in chief to a woman veteran in those first moments without realizing it Oh yes I put together my camera and snapped photos from a journalistic 43

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Left to Right SSgt Chiquitta Evans SSgt Melissa Allen Sgt Susan Fluck SSgt Pat White LCpl 2 Pam Kubczak name not captured Brandi Fortner and MSgt Margie Alloway United States Women Veterans and Australia s force saluting during a wreath laying by Australia s Prime Minister at the Tomb of the Unknown perspective but I was completely lost in a sea of women veterans whom I hadn t interacted with since basic military training When we got on that bus we were one I saw Claudette Williams who I d interviewed Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 only a month ago to bring visibility to her Women s Veterans Museum and Military Families Service Center I don t know how it happened but we just came together We d all been through basic in one form or another We d all survived our own traumas We d all found our way to those three busses Some instantly connected based on branch and others connected based on random seating I was fortunate to be on the bus with Shan Sperduto and Andrew Schiavello who took some gentle ribbing about being one of the only men allowed on the bus A woman came and sat in the seat next to me who sounded so familiar she looked familiar too We figured out quickly what a small world it was when 45

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Above Three Pennsylvania busses of women veterans AllWomenAllWars Left Kathleen Silvia PA State Ambassador and Phyllis Wilson President of the Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation who greeted us upon our arrival we realized we d met just shy of a year earlier at the Philadelphia VAMC for a Women Veteran s Town Hall Kathleen Silvia the PA State Ambassador for Women In Military Service For America WIMSA Memorial As we moved along in the early dawn we learned there were 906 women veterans attending this Honor Flight from across the nation that we may have the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister of Australia and their First Lady at Arlington later in the day and that we d just crossed into Delaware as each state changed state police escorts We were provided with breakfast sandwiches from Chick Fil A As we neared D C a local tour guide came on the bus with us You could tell she was new 46 to a bus full of women as she kept referring to us all as guys however she provided great detail about women in the military and the memorials What a treat to have a local guide us through the streets of D C We made it to the breathtaking Arlington National Cemetery in all its perfectly lined splendor and humbling rows of patriots As we waited to enter I noticed a small group of women who seemed to be instant friends chatting They turned out to be a group of Marines one of whom is a dual Marine and Air Force veteran Quietly someone mentioned she had written her own book Molly the Marine I gave business cards snapped a group photo and left them to their visit We watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with the Australian Prime Minister and his entourage They were as enamored with so many female veterans as we were with them and thanked us for our service I wish we d had more time at the women s memorial but we needed to keep on schedule women in uniform met us at the women s memorial we were greeted everywhere we went Of course my personal favorite was the Air Force Memorial where a group of Gonzaga College High School water polo players and scouts greeted us and shared lunch These young people were so charming I ve never seen a group this age so genuinely interested and engaged with veterans or women or women veterans As I worked Winter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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In front of the Washington Memorial The Air Force Memorial through the day and posted to social media one of my basic training flight mates commented how much he also loved the Air Force Memorial I was connecting with my military past and the present as current District 6 American Legion Riders and Warriors Watch Riders saw and commented on images throughout the day From gratuitous selfies at Independence Mall and the Lincoln Memorial to the somber Korean Memorial we shared honor we wept and we simply appreciated the overwhelming immortalization of our fellow service members As we headed home I wondered about the escorts those motorcycle riders like me who escorted these Honor Flights from the PA state line into the city to the busses final destination Would motorcycles be there to greet us as we d Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 done with the men s Honor Flights times before Would they forget about us or be frustrated we enjoyed our own women only busses instead of an all veterans bus A fellow Warrior s Watch Rider had been checking in on social media and said the motorcycles were there At the last moment Shan announced the bus driver needed a pit stop We pulled into the welcome center and it took a few moments for the women to realize as Shan described that these motorcyclists were there to escort us home to Mission BBQ The women were overwhelmed as was I To see my motorcycling community intersect with my veteran community and honor women veterans was humbling Not only did I know two of the Warriors Watch Riders but one of them came on the bus and thanked us and was wearing a Ride for Kids t shirt from the weekend prior where we raised over 40k for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and children with brain cancer My generously donating and patriotic community of motorcyclists had come through Some had ridden over an hour to be a part of this historic Honor Flight I recognized many of my fellow SSBP men and women riders In total 150 motorcycles escorted us home to Mission BBQ During the motorcycle escort we watched overpass after overpass lined with firefighters and other first responders who had arrived and were waiting to share their honor for us The police shut down interstate 95 for miles upon miles the longest interstate closure in PA for an Honor Flight escort Some of the departments involved 47

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were City of Chester Professional Firefighters IAF Local 1400 Philadelphia Fire Department Ladder 20 stood in salute Philadelphia 2nd Alarmers Association Philadelphia Police Department Cornwells Fire Company Station 16 and Philadelphia Fire Dept Ladder 31 were also at salute Milford Township Volunteer Fire Company No 1 Ladder 81 were waving flags we even had a police helicopter escort During that last leg of the trip one of the 48 most wonderful gifts we received was mail call We each were given a manila envelope filled with letters of gratitude from across the country Many of these brought tears to my eyes I still can t wait to send thank you notes as I enjoy each one all over again Small things big impact When we arrived at Mission BBQ a red carpet was laid out for us the welcoming party was dense and one of my very own District 6 American Legion Riders the Regional Director Tim Rom was there to greet us and we shook hands The busses full of women enjoyed a welcome home feast at the Mission BBQ even the cooks were women veterans from newly formed Nu Epsilon Tau NET Military Sisters in Alliance We heard a Marine s beautiful harmonica words of encouragement and honor from officials and ate wonderful food One never knows when a feeling of insigWinter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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Mail Call Of course my personal favorite was the Air Force Memorial where a group of Gonzaga College High School water polo players and scouts greeted us and shared lunch nificance toward mankind your workplace the community or loved ones will strike and I had been feeling pretty low and depleted in the months prior to that Honor Flight and in particular the last few days prior to getting on that bus That trip was the best honor I can remember ever being a part of they didn t just say they valued us they showed it in so many big and small ways It was the most incredible experience Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 Something that struck me throughout our journey we were escorted Most of us have been on the arm of a date and been escorted to a dance or event but not like this From the Philadelphia police to the Pennsylvania state police the Delaware police the D C police and even SWAT we were treated as precious cargo We were honored When SWAT in the police car ahead of us jumps out to yell at cars preventing the bus from moving through traffic in the middle of our nation s capitol city you do feel pretty special You feel protected in a way you ve never allowed yourself to feel before because you were the protector the defender of liberty In these moments I realized how we women who have untapped reserves of strength and resilience finally let our guard down and accepted honor I was truly humbled to be amongst these women veterans the movers and shakers thinkers and doers in our communities 49

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OUT OF UNIFORM Step out in high fashion Natasha Norie Standards path to designing luxury shoes was circuitous but steadfast After years of service to the United States Army Natasha retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in charge of VIP missions special operations and airfield logistics Zeno Sneakers with Bow 195 00 During deployments in Italy Iraq and Germany she spent her spare time immersed in the culture and arts venues that allowed her to gain valued Arianne Pump with Bow 325 00 design perspectives In interim years Natasha enrolled and attended historic Hampton University in Virginia to obtain her B S in Marketing and holds a Master of Administration from Webster University Upon retirement she attended Savannah Aria Ankle Bootie with Bow 420 00 College of Art and Design SCAD to earn a second master s degree Mino Slip On Sneakers 195 00 Having gained the insight and knowledge needed to navigate the current consumer market she moved to Europe to train with experts in shoemaking from Arsutoria a prestigious footwear developer and BACKGROUND CHUTTERSNAP design school in Milan Italy Once she obtained her certificate her intent was to finally bet on herself and rollout her business model Needle Women s Combat Boot 445 00 NORIE Shoe Company was born Amina High Heel Sandal Python Green 300 00 norieshoes norieshoes Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 WWW NORIESHOES COM 55

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FINDING THE MISSION BY GENEVIEVE CHASE I m often asked what the most influential moment in my life was and those that know me would likely think it was when I was in Lashkar Gah Helmand Province Afghanistan in 2006 On April 7 2006 the truck I was riding in was blown up by a suicide bomber driving a car packed with explosives who hit us head on T here was nothing left of the car and everyone who saw the explosion as well as the aftermath concluded that we should have all died Even though this experience changed the course of my life and changed me as a person I no longer let it define me It was a moment that I felt reborn in a sense What I learned from this experience was how fleeting life is and how very fortunate we are to participate in it I was also left with a somewhat existential crisis that often follows near death experiences I circled endlessly around the one question I think many survivors in war ask themselves Why did I survive I spent the following couple years with that question haunting me When I think about what was the most influential moment in my life my memory reverts instantly to the moment I truly understood why I survived that explosion It was sometime in late 2007 or early 2008 after I had returned from serving with the 10th Mountain Division Light Infantry and was now back Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 in the Army Reserve I was working my first job as a defense industry contractor and still adjusting from leaving 4 years continuous active duty orders and that 2006 deployment I was lost and completely without a sense of purpose At the time I didn t realize I was also I fought all stigmas around these issues because I didn t want to be perceived as weak or unable to do my job suffering from post traumatic stress PTS and a mild traumatic brain injury MTBI both of which inevitably led me to bouts of insomnia disorientation confusion lack of impulse control and ultimately suicidal ideation It was fairly unknown and uncommon at that time and I fought all stigmas around these issues because I didn t want to be perceived as weak or unable to do my job Eventually I found myself on the floor of my living room one night contemplating ways to end my suffering I will never understand what happened but I hyperventilated until I passed out and woke up the next morning with an entirely different energy Rather than one of defeat I wanted to fight I knew that if I could not be there for my brothers and sisters who were still deployed I could make sure that when they returned from their deployments they didn t feel the sense of disorientation and guilt that I did I wanted to ensure they had something to come home to so I began researching how to go about doing that One of the first resources I found was a non profit organization comprised of Afghanistan and Iraq veterans working on Capitol Hill to champion a new GI Bill That was the moment I understood what my next steps were and I emailed the organization offering to volunteer in whatever capacity I could 57

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RAKICEVIC NENAD Their quick response asked me to show up on location for a press conference about the new bill I did my research called in to work and went to their headquarters That began my introduction to a group of young recently discharged veterans who were living the very dream I had of improving the lives of all veterans when they returned home The Post 9 11 GI Bill passed through the House and the Senate and was signed into law so quickly that it had many issues initially but all that mattered was that there were Soldiers Sailors Airmen and Marines down range sitting in their military vehicles or just returning from missions who could dream bigger dreams after their service to our country This bill was not dreamed up by the old guard of veterans organizations like the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars As it was explained to me it was the topic of conversation at a D C roof top Margarita Sunday get together by young veterans including a couple of former enlisteds It was working with this organization of dedicated and passionate war veterans that helped me realize that I could be even a small part of making a difference It didn t matter that I was junior enlisted in the Army Reserve didn t have a degree from an Ivy League school or wasn t cultured to the ways of Capitol Hill What mattered was my passion my commitment to improving the lives of veterans my personal experiences and my willingness to be open about what I had been through and was enduring Soon I realized there was a void in assis 58 tance focused on women veterans After meeting with a small group of women my sister and I founded American Women Veterans Foundation a national level non profit organization that advocates educates and raises awareness of veterans and women in military service It wasn t long before I was testifying on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee about my experience in Afghanistan and the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee about my fight as a woman through PTS TBI and the lack of care and resources given to women veterans because many believed we didn t serve in combat due to the previous policy While working full time and still serving in the Army Reserve I spent a great deal of personal time working with members of Congress to improve access to healthcare repeal the outdated don t ask don t tell policy update the combat exclusion policy and revise the advanced appropriations for funding the Veterans Administration VA from one year to every two years to prevent a loss or stalling of funding for critical programs and positions at VA centers around the country Perhaps less notable but also very important to me was working to help change the stigma of military members with PTS and TBI Watching so many of my fellow service members suffer in silence because they were afraid to lose their security clearances was harder than going through it myself I knew that fear all too well as I had seen the way my former unit treated my teammate who wasn t as good at hiding or possible didn t wish to hide his symp toms as I had I m sure being candid has cost me many professional opportunities but every public speaking event or media article or documentary I have been in advised on or contributed to someone will reach out to me and tell me that by sharing my story and overcoming all I have I ve inspired them to not give up And today service members seeking counseling or therapy due to deployment related issues are not supposed to lose their security clearances Surviving being blown up taught me that I still had a mission to accomplish in this lifetime Finding that mission taught me not to discredit what one dedicated person with passion and vision can accomplish regardless of their pedigree or academic professional resume Countless times I ve gone against the advice of well meaning people to advocate for what I believe to be just Through failures and successes I ve learned that what my old Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 used to say about trials and challenges rings true It s all character building Chase It s what we make of what happens to us that matters the perspective we choose to view our life through and the story we want to tell I am not a victim of what happened to me I am a fighter and I am stronger because of having lived it I d like to think I did the best I could with what happened to me and I continue to apply this philosophy in all aspects of my life it s not what happens to us that defines us it s what we make it all mean and what we do with those experiences that does Winter 2019 2020 www AVOWMagazine com

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ARTIST Christina Wilkinson C The original pieces above as well as the zebra artwork on page 55 are by Christina Wilkinson These three pieces were exhibited in the VA Loma Linda in 2019 All of these pieces of artwork were created in color pencil using Prismacolors Top left Title Out of the Ashes 11x17 Top right Title People of the Earth 13x19 Page 55 Title Raindrops 13x19 The original pieces above are artwork by Christina Wilkinson Left Title The Assistant pen Ink 8 5x11 Right Title Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd pencil 13x19 Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 hristina Wilkinson has been an artist since she was old enough to pick up crayons She is inspired by surrealism as well as abstract mixed with realism Her mediums include pencil pen ink color pencil and digital formats Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop Christina is an award winning artist who has been featured in multiple exhibits across the United States She served for ten years in the U S Air Force where she mostly worked in the Publications Distribution Office After leaving the military she became the art director for multiple wellknown publishing companies While living in Nevada Christina founded Art Quotient a 501 c 3 in 1998 through 2015 She served as a judge for Nevada s 2001 SkillsUSA Vocational Industrial Clubs of America advertising competition for high school students She was instrumental in establishing the STAR internship program for high school artists in Las Vegas when Clark County was the 6th largest school district in the nation Christina was also selected to assist in developing and serve as an active member of Clark County School District s Joint Technical Skills Graphic Design Committee serving on that board for several years She was also a board member of the Summerville High School s ROP committee for design and visual arts in California She has won an abundance of art awards A poster design she created in 2002 was selected as one of the top 10 in the nation by the National Trust for Historic Preservation It was exhibited in the National Building Museum in Washington DC for a year In February 2004 Christina was presented a Bronze Quill Award by the Las Vegas Chapter of International Association of Business Communicators The most prestigious award she received by far was in 2000 by Graphic Design U S A This recognition is only awarded to the top 10 of over 25 000 artists nationally She was recognized for her custom illustration of the Tree of Life logo for KidsCharities org Her artwork is featured on a new 9 11 Memorial in Tuolumne City California and she was recently approached about her artwork being sold in two major national parks She continues to draw and inspire in her spare time as well as mentor youth artists in her area 61

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art therapy programs has enabled Barbara to simultaneously heal herself while creating images that inspire others Barbara paints strong women warriors characters imbued with soul She hopes that her creations will spotlight the courage and strength exemplified by fellow female veterans Barbara served in the Medical ARTIST Barbara Barnett For female U S Army veteran Barbara Barnett painting provides refuge from the demands of PTSD MST Participating in several Corp in Germany during the Vietnam War Her career in the Army took her to places such as Germany during the Cold War Vietnam Era She has a PhD in Psychology Art has saved my life adding an amazing tool for dealing with pain and keeping my soul alive Learn more about the Women s Veteran Art Project by visiting veteranartinstitute org PATRIOT GRATITUDE SERIES Each piece in this six part series was created with multi media materials by Barbara Barnett Each represent a unique opportunity for Barbara to challenge her view of gratitude for the Nation s military veterans She chose to utilize red white and blue as the main palette The theme evolved from being asked how she would paint the word Gratitude This was a creative process driven by her desire to celebrate Gratitude within each painting 1 Gratitude Flag My intention was to express a flag without it being a traditional vision of our Nation s flag while creating color and movement within the art Additionally I was driven to use the theme to also demonstrate that the task of Patriots is not easy Scrambled but still hanging the colors high 2 Gratitude and the thin red line Although an abstract this piece represents my interpretation of any American city Veterans recognize that our mission as citizens are very important to our society yet the red line is difficult to define as life s journey takes us to our own red lines 3 Gratitude Celebration Purely an abstraction of celebration for our gratitude I wanted lots of color and movement to encourage viewers to look for the many shapes and different elements like in a greeting card 4 Layers of Gratitude This piece was done over a period of weeks The message is to see the layers of our flag and understand that we are continously sacrificing to keep our Nation flag as symbol and it s people free Worn down now and then but always rebuilding of the ideals that created our Nation 5 City of Gratitude This piece is reflective of my continuing desire to see that every veteran knows they are appreciated It is a abstract vision of a complex and proud American City A dream of patriotism and looking out for one another patriots and civilians 6 Voting with gratitude This piece was inspired by the idea that voting is part of our freedom We are grateful to live in a Country where we can vote for our beliefs The tic tac toe symbol asks the question about who actually counts our votes Are elections fixed by financial interests only or by The People s will We each decide this for ourselves Facebook com AVOWMagazine Winter 2019 2020 www barbarabarnett art 63

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S e r ve Honor Emp owe r American Women Veterans Foundation generations of powerful and inspiring women believes that women have always been the We strive to Serve Honor and Empower catalyst for change within our homes our women from all branches of service with a communities and the world We envision a continued sense of pride and community society in which the legacy of America s service which enables them to continue to servicewomen veterans and their families reach their full potential and contribute as is celebrated and carried on to future they always have in making America stronger American Women Veterans is the nation s preeminent non partisan 501 c 3 non profit organization dedicated to serving honoring and empowering military women veterans and their families AWV welcomes veterans and supporters from all eras and branches of service A M E R IC A NWOM EN V ET ER A N S ORG Shop and Supp or t AW VG E A R C OM