Women Veterans Day is celebrated on June 12th in the United States to commemorate the anniversary of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948. On this day, President Harry S. Truman signed the act, which allowed women to serve as permanent members of the military. The day's goal is to honor the service and sacrifices of women veterans, as well as the unique challenges they face.
Press Release: Montgomery County’s Commission on Veterans Affairs to Join in Celebration of ‘Women Veterans Day’ by Recognizing County’s Female Veterans on Wednesday, June 12
As part of our Hometown Heroes recognition, the Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs has begun collecting virtual tributes of women Veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed and Uniformed Services living in or from Montgomery County, Maryland to be shared on our website.
The records show these women as enlisting, being originally from, or having at one time lived in Montgomery County, MD. We consider the U.S. Department of Defense home of entry records as the official designation of military residency.
Resources: View our Veterans Network Directory (PDF) for programs, services, and resources specific to women Veterans. To view an Adobe PDF file, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to open the file. You can obtain one for FREE from Adobe Systems Incorporated. Download Acrobat Reader
Shanquenetta U. Anderson
Lieutenant Colonel Shanquenetta Anderson has served 26 years in the Army National Guard/Reserves and is a veteran of the Global War on Terrorism. She enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard on January 15, 1998 as an admin clerk and was later reclassed to Military Police in 2000. Upon obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in August 2003, she was commissioned as an Intelligence Officer where she served as Platoon Leader, Rear Detachment Commander (after 9/11), MI Company Commander, Battalion S-2, Assistant Brigade S-2, Operational Security Officer, Intelligence Analyst for Europe/ Africa for Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Unit Victim Advocate, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Anti-Terrorism Officer, and Battalion Master Fitness Trainer. In 2009, Lieutenant Colonel Anderson deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq with the 155th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB) as a Company Commander and Battalion S-2. In 2013, she deployed to Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan with the 226 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) as the Assistant Brigade S-2 and Unit Victim Advocate. She is currently the Training Support Command Brigade S-3 at Fort Belvoir. Lieutenant Colonel Anderson currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Renee Murita Anderson-Stephenson
Renee Murita Anderson-Stephenson enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves in September 1977 and was one of the first women soldiers to train with males and females together. While it was challenging at first, they worked as a team in order to graduate. She was stationed in Fort Jackson, South Carolina for basic training and completed Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Lawrence, Indiana. During her service Anderson-Stephenson was assigned to Personnel Admin Specialist and was later transferred to an Assistant Instructor. Anderson honorably discharged as an SP5 in September 1983 and pursued a career in education where she spent 45 years teaching elementary school both nationally and internationally, working in schools in Brazil, Germany, Africa, Japan, California, Atlanta, South Dakota, Washington, DC and Maryland. Anderson-Stephenson has been a resident for 17 years and currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland. She is a new wife, a proud mother of 3 daughters, a loving nana to 5 grandchildren and a new great grandmother.
Veronica Childers
Veronica Childers served as a nurse in the U.S. Army for 12 years during the Gulf War. She worked out of Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado. She was promoted to Captain during her time in the Army. Childers has lived in Montgomery County since 1997. She has lived in Takoma Park, Silver Spring, and Olney and currently resides in Gaithersburg. She works for the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) of Montgomery County.
Alicia Christy
Alicia Christy served as a doctor in the U.S. Army for 22 years during the Gulf War and the Global War on Terror. While on active duty, she served as Chair of the OBGYN department at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and as a consultant to the Army Surgeon General for Women’s Health Issues. She is also the former Deputy Director of Reproductive Health with the VA and a Red Cross volunteer physician at WRAMC. She has received several awards for her advocacy efforts that focus on women veterans and health disparities. As an artist, Dr. Christy has used her artwork to honor women who have served and to bring attention to health disparities. Her portraits “Faces of the Fallen: Women Proudly Served” was part of exhibits hosted at the Library of Congress and Dulles International Airport. She has also had her art featured with the veteran artist non-profit group Uniting US which has had exhibits held at the Library of Congress, Dulles International Airport, National airport, and the British Embassy. At the request from a Maryland Delegate, veteran artists, including Dr. Christy, from United US have painted the portraits of the 128 Maryland residents killed in action during the Global War on Terror. The exhibit is scheduled for January 2025. Dr. Christy currently resides in Kensington, Maryland. View full profile .
Jennifer L. Cooper
Major (Retired) Jennifer L. Cooper hails from a line of U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force service members on the Cooper side of her family. She was commissioned a Nurse Officer in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) in 1995 through the USAF R.O.T.C. program at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and retired from the USAF Reserve in 2016. Major Cooper is a veteran of Operation Allied Force during the Kosovo war. She served most of her career in the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Cooper is employed as a Nurse Administrator for Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. She currently resides in Rockville, Maryland.
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Lillian Fishburne
Lillian Fishburne made history by being the first African-American woman to attain the rank of rear admiral when she was promoted by President Bill Clinton in 1998. This followed her tenures as chief of the Command and Control Systems Support Division in Washington, D.C., and as commander of the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station of the Eastern Pacific. She retired in 2001 with decorations including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals and the Navy Achievement Medal. She resides in Rockville, Maryland. View full profile
Gail Hubbard Froelich
Gail Hubbard Froelich joined the U.S. Air Force after high school in June 6, 1964. She served as Secretary at McChord Air Force Base, Washington for her first year of duty. During her time there she taught Disaster Control and was fill in Secretary for base and wing commanders. She also received a certificate of recognition for riding in a Command T-33 Jet Aircraft with the 325 th Fighter Wing, McChord. Froelich also served as Secretary in Top Secret War Planning at Hickman Air Force Base, Hawaii, for three years. She was an Air Force Princess for a base Air Force birthday party while in Hawaii. Froelich ended her Air Force career as a Sergeant and was discharged on June 5, 1968 at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. She moved to Silver Spring, Maryland in 2011 to be closer to her daughter and family after her husband passed away.
Gloria White Gardner
Gloria White Gardner was a neuropsychiatric nurse, serving in the Navy from 1960-63 at Bethesda Naval Hospital. She has more 35 years of experience working for federal executive agencies in Washington, D.C., and with national and state nonprofit organizations and faith-based institutions. As a contractor for the U.S. Department of Commerce Patent and Trademark Office, she investigated and resolved cases regarding complaints of discrimination. Gardner resided in Rockville, Maryland. She passed away on June 18, 2023, at the age of 83. View full profile
Ella Mae Gray
Ella Mae Gray served in the U.S. Air Force as a Senior Airman from 1994 to 1998. As a health services administrator, she worked in various administrative positions within the base hospital including the orderly room, medical library and medical records. She also performed ceremonial duties with the base Honor Guard. Gray grew up in East Tennessee and graduated from Alcoa High School in 1994. She graduated from Troy University, Troy, Alabama, with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology in 2000. She also graduated from LaSalle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, earning a Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling Psychology in 2005. Gray has been a licensed psychotherapist in Montgomery County since 2010. In 2016, she opened Guiding Principles Counseling Services, LLC, in Gaithersburg. Gray is currently a resident of Germantown.
Tamara Johnson
Tamara Johnson served six years in the U.S. Navy during the Global War on Terror. She served as a Reactor Mechanic on the USS George Washington, CVN073 from September 2001 through December 2005 completing two Mediterranean sea cruises during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operating Enduring Freedom. She earned the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Johnson currently resides in Bethesda, Maryland.
Jayne Lura-Brown
Jayne Lura-Brown served as a personnelmen in the U.S. Navy at the National Naval Medical Center (now Walter Reed National Military Medical Center) in Bethesda, Maryland. She was attached to the USNS Comfort (T-Ah-20) hospital ship as part of its Deployable Medical Unit (DEPMED). During the ships dock times, Lura-Brown facilitated shipboard trainings to military personnel attached to the ship in Norfolk, VA. As a member of the Personnel Support Detachment (PSD) Manpower Management team, she was instrumental in deploying 2000 plus Navy personnel in 1990 (with only 24 hours notice) to the ship at the onset of the first Gulf war, while also preparing for her own deployment thereon. Lura-Brown served on the USNS Comfort (T-Ah-20) during Operation Desert Storm, Operation Imminent Thunder, and received the armed forces National Defense Ribbon for her service aboard the USNS Comfort during the Persian Gulf War. She continues to serve the Nation through her 30+ continued years of Federal Government service as a Program Analyst with the Department of Health and Human Services. She also continues to serve her fellow Veterans through her membership and leadership activities with the National Institute of Health's (NIH) Veteran Recruitment and Retention Force (VRF) developed in 2011 to support and mentor veteran employees at the NIH, and to engage and facilitate veteran recruitment strategies within the agency. Lura-Brown currently resides in Germantown, Maryland.
Leslie Lyles
Leslie Lyles served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years and is a Gulf War veteran. She attended school at the Bethesda Naval Hospital, now known as the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the Naval Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, Illinois, and the Basic Medical Laboratory School at Fort Sam in Houston, Texas. Lyles was assigned to 4th Marine Division in Baltimore, Maryland. After retiring from the Navy, she is now employed as a Transfusion Medical Technologist (Blood Bank) and a Microbiology Medical Technologist (Infectious Disease) with Luminis Health and has been active in the Navy Reserves since 2014. Originally from Pennsylvania, Lyles currently resides in Clarksburg, Maryland.
Martha I. Lyman
Martha I. Lyman served for over two years in the U.S. Army during World War II in Naples, Italy, with the support staff for the 5 th Army as a stenographer. She participated in the campaigns of Naples-Foggia and Rome-Arno. Lyman received the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, Good Conduct Medal and WAAC Service Ribbon. Following her military service, she returned to Europe to work 2 years in Frankfurt, Germany as a civilian with the U.S. Occupation Forces. Lyman, maiden name Landon, was born and raised in Marion, Ohio. She moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland, in 2015 to be closer to her family in Bethesda. Prior to moving to Maryland, she lived in Chappaqua, New York, for 50 years.
Cynthia Izuno Macri
Dr. Cynthia Macri was commissioned into the U.S. Navy in 1979 and retired as a Captain after 35 years of service as a gynecologic oncologist. She held a variety of academic and executive leadership roles at the National Naval Medical Center, Naval Hospital Jacksonville, FL, Walter Reed Army Medical Center (Washington, DC), the Naval Medical Education and Training Command, and the Uniformed Services University before moving to the Pentagon to serve as Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations for Diversity. Upon retirement in 2013, she was retained on active duty for an additional 12 months to serve as Chief Strategist for the 21 st Century Sailor Office where she advised the Chief of Naval Personnel on human performance, unit cohesiveness, personnel readiness and productivity and the Navy’s effort to combat sexual assault/sexual harassment, suicide and mental health as well as destructive behaviors such as underage and binge drinking, drinking and driving, fraternization, and bias in evaluations and promotions. Dr. Macri serves on several committees and commissions including the Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Women Veterans. She current resides in Kensington, Maryland. View full profile
Lisa J. Markland
Lisa Markland joined the United States Air Force in September 1985, initially through the Air National Guard and later served through the Air Force Reserves at what was then Andrews Air Force Bace. She was permanently injured at her first reserve drill in March 1988, but served through the Gulf War and was honorably discharged in the summer of 1992. Although Markland completed her master’s degree while still in service she chose to serve in aeromedical evacuation, and left service as an E-5 staff sergeant. She currently resides in Germantown, Maryland. View full profile
Casey McCabe
Casey McCabe is an Army Veteran turned Park Ranger. While enlisted in the Army, she was the Communications Property Manager with S6 (radios, computers, antennas, etc.). During deployment to Iraq, she installed radios in vehicles and ensured Communications were running properly. The skills she learned while serving in the military helped pave the path for her career with the National Park Service (NPS). Casey began her NPS career, through the Pathways Program, as an Administrative Support Assistant, for Rock Creek Park in 2015. McCabe recently took on the new role of Supply Management Specialist at National Mall and Memorial Parks in D.C. McCabe grew up in Montgomery County, graduating from the Academy of the Holy Cross in 2005 and earning her Associate degree from Montgomery College. View full profile
Elizabeth Jane McCarthy
Elizabeth Jane McCarthy joined the Army Nurse Corps in 1968 while she was attending Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing. After the six weeks of basic training in Texas, she was stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for ten months in the Recovery Room/Intensive Care Unit. Then, at age 22, with that minimal experience under her belt, she was sent to the 95th Evacuation Hospital in DaNang, South Vietnam where she worked as a Captain in the pre-operative and receiving area as a triage nurse, separating patients based on severity of injuries and what medical treatments were needed. Sometimes, all she could do was hold a soldier’s hand as he breathed his last breath. View full profile
Martha McKinney
Sergeant Martha McKinney served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2012 to 2016 during the Global War on Terror. She was stationed aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii where she served as a Legal Services Specialist and was predominantly assigned to the base’s Legal Services Office. Sergeant McKinney was further assigned as a victims advocate where she aided in seeking justice for victims of sexual assault and violence. She currently resides in Gaithersburg, Maryland with her husband Sean.
Constance "Connie" Mitchell
Connie Mitchell was born in the Catskill Mountains north of New York City in 1931. Her father was admitted to West Point Military Academy and moved his family across the country to Northern California, where Mitchell attended high school. Upon her graduation in 1949, she joined the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, where she served as an office clerk on Hamilton Air Force Base in California for 3 years. She was proud to work under some high-ranking female officers, who, though ranked above her, embraced her and they became friends. She has fond memories of attending dances on weekends. After completing her third year, she left the U.S. Air Force and became a travel agent. Mitchell was married to her husband, Carl, for 60 years before he passed away. They had 4 boys - Carl Jr, Mark, Michael and Matthew. Her hobbies are crossword and word puzzles, as well as reminiscing with family. She now lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, not too far from her son, Michael.
Kristen L. Moe
Kristen Moe entered uniformed service on December 8, 1993 and was inducted into the Navy in Albany, New York. She was posted in Japan, South Carolina, and at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. During the George W. Bush and Obama administrations, she served as consulting dietician to the White House. While in the Public Health Service, she has been deployed in response to Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Maria and has served as a mentor to young officers. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she assisted with emergency approval of hand-sanitizers. Captain Moe is currently serving at the Food and Drug Administration in Silver Spring, Maryland. She currently resides in Kensington, Maryland.
Julia Musson
Julia Musson is a Vietnam-era Veteran who served 8 years in the U.S. Navy. She completed boot camp in Orlando, Florida in 1974 and avionics training at the Naval Air Station in Memphis, Tennessee in 1975. She served as a Training Device Operations and Maintenance Technician from 1975 to 1984. Musson currently resides in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Trinity R. Nelson
Trinity Nelson served during the Global War of Terrorism era as a Gunnery Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. She enlisted in May 2000 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. She graduated from 4 th Battalion, November Company, Series 4024, Platoon 4025. Her Military Occupational Skill (MOS) was 5831, Corrections Specialist. This MOS entailed in-taking, supervising, and releasing military prisoners from all branches and ranks of every service. Nelson was medically retired from the Marine Corps in February 2015 after 14 ½ years of service. Her husband, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jody R. Nelson (Ret.), passed away in March 2015 from Neuroendocrine Small Cell Carcinoma. Together they have one son, Caleb. Nelson and her son currently live in Damascus, Maryland. Pictured with Nelson is her service dog York, whom she received from Hero Dogs . View full profile
Marilyn Pierre
Marilyn Pierre joined the U.S. Army Reserves in 1987 because she wanted to serve her country. She started out as a Private and became a Cadet when she joined the Reserved Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) while attending college. After graduation, she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Military Police (MP) Corps. Prior to retirement in 1995, Pierre was promoted to First Lieutenant and received an honorable discharge. She gained a lot of leadership skills during her time in the military and was taught by many Vietnam War Veterans that you have to do the right thing even when the right thing is difficult to do. Those skills and lessons have proven to be invaluable and have continued to serve her well. Pierre currently resides in North Potomac, Maryland.
Joyce Tabb
Joyce Tabb served Active Duty Army from 1975-1978 as a Finance Specialist at Fort Hood, Texas, with honorably discharge in December 1978 as Sergeant. She immediately joined the Army Reserves in January 1979 serving in Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia and later Riverdale, Maryland, serving until retirement in 1996 as Sergeant First Class. While assigned to the U.S. Army Reserves in Riverdale, Tabb served in Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War at Fort Meade, Maryland, in 1991. During her 21 years of service she worked as a Finance Specialist, Administrative Specialist, Payroll Clerk, Supply Specialist, and Training Specialist and received numerous rewards for her service. Tabb has worked in Management and Budget for the Montgomery County Police Department since March 2014 as a Fiscal Assistant and Accountant/Auditor.
Anneke Vandenbroek
Dr. Anneke Vandenbroek served in the U.S. Army from 1998 to 2002. She was a recipient of the Army Health Professions Scholarship for her doctorate in psychology and entered active duty in June 1998. She completed her internship at Fort Gordon, Georgia and then served as Division Psychologist for the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. She completed her tour at Tripler Army Medical Center as a Captain. Dr. Vandenbroek continued to work as a psychologist serving the military as a civilian employee at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and was Clinic Director for the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Easterseals. She currently works in her own private practice. Dr. Vandenbroek has been a member of the Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs since April 2021 and was appointed Vice Chair in April 2024 by County Executive Marc Elrich. She currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Angela Waller
Angela Waller is a Combat Veteran who served 24 years in the U.S. Army Reserve during the Global War on Terror. She served the majority of her career as a Medical Laboratory Technician and Blood Bank Operations Specialist. She was later nominated to serve as an Army Reserve Counselor for U.S. Army Reserve Command. Upon retiring, Waller began practicing yoga, writing poetry, taking pictures, playing golf and volunteering – all instrumental in helping reduce stress and anxiety. She is now a published writer, Holistic Lifestyle Coach, and registered yoga teacher, holding several specialized certifications. An avid volunteer of several organizations, Waller additionally earned the President Barack Obama Volunteer Service Award. She founded a nonprofit organization, created to bring various social events to underrepresented populations, and recently founded a wellness brand specializing in yoga for athletes, beginners and Veterans. In 2017, Waller was appointed as a Maryland Ambassador for the Military Women’s Memorial. During its 2021 inaugural search she was carefully chosen as a Proudly She Served Influencer and achieved Top Ten Finalist in the prestigious Ms. Veteran America (MVA) 2021 competition this past October where she also received the MVA 2021 Selfless Service Award. Waller is humbled and honored to bring awareness to the existence and experiences of women Veterans. She currently resides in Darnestown, Maryland.
Joann C. Watts Moore
Technical Sergeant (Retired) Joann C. Watts Moore committed to signing up for military delayed enlistment on the buddy system with two friends during her senior year of high school. When her buddies were no shows on the day they were scheduled to enlist she stepped out on faith and entered the U.S. Air Force solo in the aircraft maintenance field at a time when females were exploring non-traditional careers. She served at the Dover Air Force Base (DAFB), Delaware with the 436th Airlift Wing as a C-5 aircraft maintenance crew member providing support to keep the C-5 Galaxy fleet airborne facilitating worldwide movement of outsized cargo and personnel. During her time at DAFB the bodies from the Jim Jones massacre were processed on base. After completing six years in the aircraft maintenance field, she transitioned to the U.S. Air Force Reserves and pursued a Medical Laboratory Technician career with the DAFB 512th Airlift Wing responsible for collecting and testing blood for military members and their families. As a reservist, she continued taking classes and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Math and Computer Science which allowed her to wear two hats contributing to military family health in uniform and information technology development as a civilian. As she neared the end of her military career her reserve unit was activated to support active duty during the Gulf War 1990-1991 (Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm). She is currently actively engaged in social justice and Get Out The Vote activism. Watts Moore lived in Gaithersburg, Maryland during her service and currently resides in Boyds, Maryland.
If you would like to share your story or the story of a friend or family member, please either fill out our Google form or fill out the PDF form . Questions can be directed to [email protected] .
As of June 18, 2024 there are 27 Veteran tributes posted for Women Veterans Day (June 12).
For more information please call 240-777-1252 (V) or email [email protected] .
Proudly Recognizing the Military Service of Our U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Uniformed Services & Their Families